Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Vy Epicenter (Burkina Faso)

Région /Pays : Burkina Faso

Zone d’intervention : Boucle du Mouhoun, Burkina Faso

Dates : 01/01/2006 à 12/31/2020

Programme
Throughout Africa, The Hunger Project’s Epicenter Strategy mobilizes the population of a cluster of villages within a 10km radius to create an “epicenter,” or a center from which community-led development emanates to the surrounding areas. Through this fully integrated development strategy, community members establish and manage their own programs to address food security, nutrition, health, education, microfinance, water and sanitation. Epicenters follow four distinct phases over a period of about five to eight years on a path toward to sustainable self-reliance. _ Vy Epicenter is currently in Phase 3, during which the epicenter community shores up the progress that it has made since its inception, while beginning to plan for a transition to self-reliance. Trainings are led by community-based animators, and epicenter committees manage each program, including budget oversight and leadership transitions. The epicenter strengthens its partnerships, including solidifying and creating an even more powerful partnership with local government. Vy epicenter serves 14 villages with a total population of 37,394 women, men and children in the Bagassi commune of Burkina Faso.
In 2014, Vy community partners added 9,400 kgs of grain to their community food bank, which provides reliable, pest-free storage for excess harvest and ensures the food security of villagers during the off-season.

Activités
The Hunger Project promotes a holistic approach to food security, and many of its activities contribute to increased access to sufficient food but also improved diets, greater nutritional variety and stronger ties to local resources. For example, epicenter preschools provide hot, nutritious meals to students and epicenter rural banks offer loans and savings products that often increase the amount and quality of food at the household level. Most importantly, THP trains animators, who, with support from existing local and government institutions (farmers’ cooperatives, agricultural extension workers) hold trainings in farming technologies (row planting, field rotation), seed and soil types, and low-input yield-improving techniques (organic compost, microdose fertilizer application). The trainings take place at the epicenter demonstration farm, where crops are grown for consumption by the community and distribution to local school meal programs.

Annonce par : The Hunger Project

Financement : Private donations

NGO Aid Map (InterAction)