Women and Youth in Action for Sustainable Ecosystems

This project aims to strengthen the climate resilience of rural communities especially women and youth and to sustainably improve the biodiversity and connectivity of strategic ecosystems. This project is based on a nexus approach. It aims to promote access to sustainable economic opportunities and reduce inequalities. This project whose main beneficiaries are women and youth seeks to counter threats from climate change desertification and extremism. Project activities include: (1) conserving ecosystems biodiversity and the resulting benefits; (2) improving the efficiency of members of farmers’ organizations and cooperatives; (3) developing agroforestry value chains that respect biodiversity and are adapted to climate change; and (4) in a context marked by conflict building the capacity of local communities and increasing their engagement in terms of inclusive and equitable natural resource governance. This project will directly benefit over 10 000 people 8 000 of whom are women in 12 communities 12 farmers’ organizations and 200 community leaders in Burkina Faso’s Sahel region.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved biodiversity conservation and more sustainable use of natural resources that are important to households and economic livelihoods; (2) improved ability of farmers’ organizations to work with women and youth which will help develop sustainable business models adapted to climate change; and (3) greater engagement of decision makers in more inclusive and equitable natural resource governance which must encourage women’s involvement and consider their role in natural resource management as well as their needs.