Effects of the COVID-19 Crisis on Food Security in Burkina Faso and Senegal: an opportunity to reconfigure unequal gender relations (research project)

Areas of Expertise

  • Economic development
  • Gender Equality
  • Food Security

Means of Action

  • Development
Country Country

Hauts Bassins and South Center regions in Burkina-Faso
Kolda/Sedhiou region and Saint-Louis region in Senegal

Length Length

October 1, 2020 – October 31, 2021

Beneficiaries Beneficiaries
Partners Partners

Brock University
École Nationale Supérieure d’Agriculture (ENSA) - Senegal
Centre d’Études, de Documentation et de recherches économiques et sociale (CEDRES) - Burkina Faso

Budget Budget

CAD 746,686 $

Post-Covid in Burkina Faso and Senegal

Burkina Faso and Senegal were affected early by the COVID-19 pandemic, with national authorities being forced to introduce restrictive measures to fight it (curfews, temporary closure of markets, borders, schools, etc.). The pandemic has had devastating effects particularly on women, two thirds of whom work in the food sector. Poor and marginalized, they evolve in a very patriarchal context ruled by socio-cultural institutions, norms and constraints that perpetuate gender inequalities. Nevertheless, they are the pillar for economic development and for the well-being of their families, therefore having to bear most of the weight from the effects of the crisis. In this already fragile context, the challenge is to fully understand the impact of the pandemic and the measures to fight it on the pillars of food security for those poor and vulnerable rural households (availability, access, stability and use).

Research project

This research project is implemented by CECI with a team of researchers from Canada, Burkina Faso and Senegal, using research tools and methodologies they co-created. The gender approach is at the heart of these research tools and methodologies, and will also be mainstreamed at all stages of the project. Data is collected through interviews and a participatory approach to co-creation that focuses on empowering the participants (organizations of women producers, intermediaries between vendors and producers, other stakeholders). Furthermore, the results are validated with the participants, and courses of action are elaborated with them to bring about changes at the local, national and regional levels. Special attention is also paid to the inclusion of marginalized people at all key stages of the research.

This collaborative research project aims to identify strategies and practices that are better adapted and more easily usable by decision makers in order to ensure the food security systems are more resilient in the face of crises. Specifically, it makes it possible to:

i) analyze the relationships between COVID-19, the measures to fight it, and the repercussions on food security of poor and vulnerable rural households in Senegal and Burkina Faso;

ii) understand how (negative or positive) gender relations are reconfigured in relation to food security following the crisis and the measures put in place to resolve it;

iii) know the extent of the disruption to cross-border trade in agricultural products where poor women, key actors for food security, are involved, and to the economic empowerment of women and their households.

Ultimately, the research allows stakeholders to gain in-depth knowledge of these issues, and the results will help define and/or orient policies, strategies and adapted intervention models in relation to food security, gender and resilience at the national and regional levels.

Allies

In addition, several influential actors and allies of the cause of women and food security have been identified and are involved in the project and in the analysis workshops, with a view to making a difference in the medium to long term. These include people from the ministries in charge of agriculture, gender and women, and development planning; national and regional confederations of farmers’ and/or women’s organizations; academic institutions; organizations in charge of statistics and planning within the targeted ministries; key national programs linked to these sectors; relevant multilateral institutions such as the FAO, UN Women, ECOWAS; territorial collectives (town halls or rural communes); territorial administrations (governors, prefectures, sub-prefectures) which have played an important role in the fight against the pandemic, etc.

This research project funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) was carried out in collaboration with Brock University in Canada, the Centre d'Études, de Documentation et de Recherches Economiques et Sociaux (CEDRES) of the Thomas Sankara University in Burkina Faso and the École Nationale Supérieure d'Agriculture (ENSA) of the Iba Der Thiam University in Thiès, Senegal.

IDRC's presentation of the project

Brock University's presentation of the project
Article : The Effects of Pandemics on the Vulnerability of Food Security in West Africa—A Scoping Review
Article : Do COVID-19 and Food Insecurity Influence Existing Inequalities between Women and Men in Africa?

Project in figures

Farmers, local vendors and local leaders participating in the interviews:

200

People involved in participatory analysis activities in the 4 research zones in Burkina Faso and Senegal:

48

Documents and news

Publication | August 05 2022

CECI en parle - CECI-Senegal's radio program (French only)

CECI en parle is a series of radio programs produced by CECI-Senegal. Addressing various themes related to gender equality and volunteer cooperation, this program is broadcast on local community radio stations. 

Publication | February 10 2022

Advocacy Note: The Role of Cross-Border Trade in Food Security in Border Areas during the Covid-19 Pandemic (French only)

To limit the spread of Covid-19, the governments of Burkina Faso and Senegal have decided to close their borders in March 2020, restricting the movement of goods and people and cross-border trade. Faced with these measures and the absolute necessity of survival, traders in cross-border areas are bypassing official checkpoints to continue the cross-border trade necessary for their survival and food security, despite the risk of gender-based violence (GBV). In the event of a pandemic, for countries with still fragile economies such as Burkina Faso and Senegal, selective sanitary measures should be applied instead to allow formal exchanges and the movement of food across borders.

Publication | November 30 2021

Advocacy note: Women as key actors of food resilience: a reconfiguration of gender relations in times of pandemic COVID-19 (french only)

The Covid-19 pandemic and its response measures have intensified the vulnerability and inadequacies of food systems in West Africa, affecting all activities and processes of food production, distribution and consumption. To this end, rural women in Senegal and Burkina Faso have ensured the resilience of poor and vulnerable households, thus prompting recognition of this reality by men. It is therefore essential to give women decision-making power at all levels in the spheres related to the four (4) pillars of food security.

Publication | November 30 2021

Advocacy Note: Rethinking health measures for food security in times of pandemics COVID-19 (French only)

The measures taken during the Covid-19 pandemic had a strong impact on the functioning of agricultural production systems and markets. The economic activities of the populations have come to a halt and the consequences on the food security of rural households are enormous. All pillars of food security - availability, access, utilization and stability - have been impacted by the measures. The quantity, quality and frequency of meals have declined sharply. The measures have prioritized health aspects over food security considerations and are ultimately counterproductive.

Publication | November 30 2021

The Effects of Pandemics on the Vulnerability of Food Security in West Africa—A Scoping Review

The purpose of this paper was to show the effects of the Ebola and COVID-19 pandemics on food security vulnerability in West Africa.

Thank you to our partners

In partnership with :

Effects of the COVID-19 Crisis on Food Security in Burkina Faso and Senegal: an opportunity to reconfigure unequal gender relations (research project) Effects of the COVID-19 Crisis on Food Security in Burkina Faso and Senegal: an opportunity to reconfigure unequal gender relations (research project) Effects of the COVID-19 Crisis on Food Security in Burkina Faso and Senegal: an opportunity to reconfigure unequal gender relations (research project)

With the financial support of :

Effects of the COVID-19 Crisis on Food Security in Burkina Faso and Senegal: an opportunity to reconfigure unequal gender relations (research project)
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