Over 16% of Burkina Faso’s population is estimated to be facing acute food insecurity, while a quarter of children under 5 years old suffer stunting. The deterioration of the security situation has led to increased forced displacement, which in turn has exacerbated food and nutritional insecurity across the country. Although agriculture is the primary source of revenue for the country and the main livelihood for more than 80 percent of the population, Burkina Faso is a food deficit country (World Food Program, 2023).
Burkina Faso, a landlocked country, imports fish products (salted, dried, smoked) from Senegal and Ivory Coast. The global food inflation as well as depleting fish stocks have increased the cost of this important source of protein for the Burkinabé.
Small-scale artisanal aquaculture can play an important role in food security and nutrition. L2H supports the start-up, small aquaculture project of the Soeurs Franciscaines Missionnaires de Marie (“FMM”) in Bobo-Dioulasso. This includes the purchase of the alevins, water tanks, feed, and filtration equipment. This project is expected to benefit not only the FMM convent but also the community of families in a precarious situation it provides assistance to.