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Voices of hope

People affected by conflict share their stories of rebuilding their lives in the Liptako-Gourma and Lake Chad Basin regions of West Africa

August 15^th, 2024

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Voices of hope is a tribute to the strength and resilience of people affected by extremist groups in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Niger and Nigeria. These remarkable stories highlight individuals who, despite immense challenges, are rebuilding their lives, families and communities. Their aspiration for peace and stability is not a distant dream but a future they actively shape.

Amina Moussa Adoum, a 34-year-old mother, relates how she fled Kassalaré with her eight children to seek refuge in Baltram, Chad. Thanks to paid community work upon her arrival, she was able to buy livestock, which enabled her to provide for her family. Falmata Alhaji Modu, 36, from Ngala, Nigeria, shares how the Community Stabilization Committee rehabilitated her community and empowered women. Witness Hervé Somboro, a 31-year-old teacher from Ségué in Mali's Bandiagara region, describe how stabilization efforts, including cash-for-work programmes, unified young people in a previously mistrustful environment.

These stories reveal the unsung heroes of stabilization and uncover untold tales of people reshaping their destinies. While each person recovers from conflict differently, Voices of hope amplifies these unique stories and voices of resilience in the face of conflict.

– Blerta Cela, Regional Stabilization Facility Director, UNDP

Burkina Faso: Rebuilding lives through sustainable agriculture

Stabilization efforts have directly supported over 90,000 people across the communes of Seytenga, Gourcy and Yako in Burkina Faso.

As families return to their villages or stabilized areas, displaced people and host communities both face increased resource pressure and tensions, particularly in firewood-dependent communities. Therefore, many initiatives focus on sustainable agriculture and land restoration to rebuild lives and offer communities new opportunities and hope.

“Before the crisis, I lived in Seytenga with my husband and our five children. When the conflicts erupted, armed groups took away our livestock and then came back, killing my husband and many others in our village. I fled to Dori with my children in a cart.

With the return of the defence and security forces and the beginning of stabilization efforts, I found the courage to return to Seytenga.

Dicko Aissatou Hama | Photo: UNDP Burkina Faso

I received training in community conflict prevention and management and in gardening techniques. The training involved using non-soil planting techniques as an alternative agricultural practice for climate security and sustainability. These practices are now providing food for over 3,000 households in the commune!

I was also selected for the cash-for-work programme, rebuilding roads to earn money. This opportunity allowed me to meet my children’s needs and buy clothes and food. What I hope for now is the continuous improvement of gardening areas for good production during the dry season.”

– Dicko Aissatou Hama, Seytenga, Burkina Faso

Sustainable agriculture and land restoration initiatives over improved livelihood opportunities in Burkina Faso. Photo: UNDP Burkina Faso

Chad: Amina’s journey

CHAD: AMINA’S JOURNEY

Since October 2022, conflicts and flooding have displaced over 290,000 people in Chad. In 2023, in the Hadjer Lamis and Lake regions, stabilization efforts have significantly improved the daily lives and security of over 155,000 people, 58 percent of them women, by providing economic opportunities, agricultural and fishing supplies and new solar-powered public lighting.

A mother of eight, Amina Moussa Adoum made the journey from Kassalaré to Baltram to escape Boko Haram violence. She says the cash-for-work programme allows her to provide for her family’s needs until the day she can return home.

Cameroon: From darkness to light

“After the 2021 Boko Haram attacks in our community, we started living in fear and trauma. Our children could no longer attend school, and we couldn’t go to our farms, those who attempted to do so were either killed or kidnapped. In the chaos, I ended up selling small goods on the street in Mozogo, struggling to make ends meet.

Two years ago, the Stabilization Facility arrived in Mozogo. Through its support, I received a shop where I could keep my refrigerator functioning properly. Now, I sell larger quantities of goods, such as biscuits, sweets, milk, rice, tomatoes, soap, body and hair care products and refrigerated juices.

This shop symbolized a new lease on life, securing my goods and protecting my stock. Additionally, it is well-lit thanks to the new solar street panels in the area. With the revival of cross-border trade and this support, my income has increased from 200,000 CFA (US$332) to about 1,700,000 CFA (US$2,826).

I can now provide for my family, and most importantly, my children have access to a school that the Facility recently rehabilitated. This gives me joy, as I want them to have opportunities I never had; I hope for a bright future for them!

– Mahama Poklev, Mozogo, Cameroon

In 2023, UNDP supported 5,029 people like Mahama in Far North Cameroon with livelihoods and income-generating activities. The Facility has also built and rehabilitated 50 livelihood revitalization infrastructures, including 10 schools, seven health centres and 29 police stations and gendarmerie offices that have living quarters. These improvements have impacted the entire community.

Mali: Living and rebuilding together

In Bandiagara, Mali, the Facility works with local authorities to revitalize the economy and strengthen unity between displaced people and host communities. The rehabilitation of social services, such as the health centre, and infrastructure improvements like markets and solar lighting, have positively impacted more than 140,000 people.

Niger: Prioritizing community health

The populations of N’Gagam, in the Diffa region of Niger, were displaced for over three years following Boko Haram attacks in their villages in 2018. Markets, school and health infrastructure were destroyed, leaving residents without basic services. The Stabilization facility has rebuilt the village, allowing its displaced population to return.

Since early 2021, the Facility has rehabilitated and equipped the Integrated Community Health Centre in N’Gagam, which now features a dedicated ambulance and a fully rebuilt and equipped maternity ward, and housing for the staff. Solar powered electricity and water are fully operational.

“Every day, local authorities deploy at least four staff members to work in the maternity ward: a midwife, a nurse, an orderly and a receptionist, as well as two volunteer hygienists. Thanks to these efforts, women’s attendance and confidence in the N'Gagam maternity ward’s services have increased.

Previously, women hesitated to give birth in the ward, preferring traditional methods. But now, not only are they coming to the maternity ward to give birth, but they are also raising awareness of maternity services among other women.

The improved access to healthcare services has also had a significant impact on children’s health, particularly in the treatment of malnutrition and malaria.”

– Falmata Kerea Madou, president of the N’Gagam women’s group

Nigeria: ‘Living without fear’

For over a decade, northeastern Nigeria has been challenged by violence inflicted by terrorist groups including Boko Haram. The conflict has displaced millions of Nigerians from their homes, impacting lives, businesses and trade.

The Regional Stabilization Facility has partnered with the Government of Nigeria to construct and rehabilitate over 2,000 homes, 56 classrooms, hospitals, marketplaces, security force and government offices. Over the past five years, this support has reached 775,000 people, 56 percent of them women.

Whether it’s creating livelihood opportunities or rebuilding basic services, the Facility places communities are at the heart of stabilization efforts, focusing on including all groups, especially women and youth.

“When we finally returned to our villages after a long and dangerous journey, we found our house burned down. My father told us not to worry or cry. We cleaned up the mess and built a small temporary shelter to live in until we could rebuild our house properly.

In addition to rebuilding our community’s police station, customs offices and immigration offices, The Stabilization programme drilled boreholes. The new water boreholes made daily life much easier. Clean, close water means better health for my family and less time spent fetching water. This has allowed me to focus on rebuilding our lives. Most importantly, the Community Stabilization Committee has given me a voice in our community. As a woman, being able to speak up and have my concerns addressed is new and empowering.

For me, stability means living without fear… Security allows me to focus on making our lives better and planning for the future.

Falmata Alhaji Modu | Photo: UNDP Nigeria

Without a sense of security, it’s hard to do any of these things. You’re always worried and can’t think ahead. That’s why I believe security is the most important part of feeling stable in life. Today, security is better in Ngala, and people are returning home, ready to start over.”

– Falmata Alhaji Modu, Women’s representative on the Community Stabilization Committee, Ngala, Nigeria

Multidimensional crises

The Lake Chad Basin region is facing a multidimensional crisis; persistent insecurity due to violence perpetrated by armed groups, including Boko Haram, is compounded by the climate emergency and natural hazards. The worsening security situation, the resulting large-scale population displacement and the disruption of essential services have resulted in a significant humanitarian crisis. As of June 2024, there were 3.6 million internally displaced people and refugees in the region, according to the International Organization for Migration.

The Liptako-Gourma region, spanning Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, is facing significant instability. Recent unconstitutional changes in the three governments have led to political tensions and weakened democratic order and governance. Insecurity is increasing, driven by the presence of various extremist groups and armed militias. Regional political instability and ongoing security threats have exacerbated humanitarian needs and vulnerabilities, with over 2.8 million people displaced.

Targeted interventions

The Regional Stabilization Facility is a UNDP funding mechanism supported by international donors as well as regional and national partners. Launched in 2019 in the Lake Chad Basin region and in 2021 in the Liptako-Gourma region, the Facility intervenes in targeted conflict-affected areas, supporting the efforts of governments and communities to reduce the risk of violence and strengthen longer-term peacebuilding, recovery and development.

Active in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Niger and Nigeria, the Facility has significantly enhanced security, access to education, healthcare and justice, and created livelihood opportunities. These efforts have enabled over 500,000 internally displaced persons to return home.

For the latest facts and figures on the Facility, visit the 2023 Summary Report.

How can you help?

Share these stories with your colleagues, friends and family! To learn more:

Contact: stabilisation_programme-team@undp.org
Visit: UNDP Regional Stabilization Facility
Follow the hashtag #RegionalStabilizationFacility on Instagram, LinkedIn and X

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