Building Resilience in the Context of the Security Crisis in Burkina Faso: The Case of Internally Displaced Persons

Executive Summary

For a decade now, several regions of Burkina Faso have been affected by a security crisis, forcing residents to migrate internally to safer locations, particularly urban centers. However, these internally displaced persons (IDPs) face enormous social and economic difficulties in their daily lives in these host cities. This research focuses on the mechanisms for building resilience among these displaced persons who have settled in the cities of Ouahigouya and Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso. Its objective is to analyze the strategies implemented to help IDPs recover from the shock or adapt effectively to their new situation. To this end, a mixed-methods approach was used, resulting in the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data.

Both institutional and individual strategies have been developed to promote IDPs’ resilience. Interventions by the state and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have focused on providing temporary housing, food and non-food support, and cash transfers. These actions have helped some displaced persons recover and have even enabled others to rebuild their livelihoods through income-generating activities.

In parallel with these institutional initiatives, IDPs are developing strategies that draw on identity references and connections to facilitate their integration, to search for income-generating activities, to cope with stress, and to build resilience. Despite this, IDPs’ resilience is less pronounced. The shortcomings of the support system have led some of them to resort to negative coping strategies such as begging and survival sex.

Policy Recommendations:

The Burkinabe state must strengthen the social protection system to give IDPs more opportunities to invest in income-generating activities with the cash they receive.