Innovation and Mobilization Initiative for Food Security (IMSA)

In the regions of North, Boucle du Mouhoun, and North Center and Central Plateau, the project supported the adoption of innovative practices inspired by local priorities through interventions in the cowpea, sorghum, onion and millet value chains, in addition to livestock. [...] To better document the impacts of the project, particularly in terms of empowerment of beneficiaries, focus groups were used to unpack the results of the project and document success stories and lessons learned. [...] In addition to increasing resilience in relation to the environment and climate change, discussed further below, the increase in the number of men and women farmers with access to new varieties of seeds improved productivity, both in terms of quantity and quality. [...] All argue that the improvement of yields and the achievement of sustainable food security depends on the well-being of the soil; the better the soil is the more profitable it is. [...] The nuanced approached taken by women under the project helped to support decision making by women in the home, the collective and individual ownership of assets, participation in women’s farmer groups, and success stories regarding the right mix of training and inputs.