The border region between Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire is a vital economic hub for both countries. However, it faces growing threats from climate change, which exacerbates local and cross-border community conflicts. Committed to its mission of fostering lasting peace, Interpeace empowers communities to bridge divisions and resolve conflicts non-violently.

Since 2022, Interpeace has been implementing the Support for Inclusive Governance of Natural Resources for Conflict Prevention project in Burkina Faso’s Niangoloko and Niankorodougou (Cascades Region) communities as well as Côte d’Ivoire’s Kawara and Toumonkoro (Savanes District) communities.

It is specifically aimed at improving the management and access to economic and social infrastructure in a climate change-sensitive manner, strengthening social cohesion and mechanisms for conflict resolution and prevention, and improving the management of natural resources.  Combining a Peace and Development Nexus approach, the project supports local authorities and communities in building socio-economic infrastructure. To ensure the sustainability of these achievements, Interpeace is working to facilitate community ownership of these infrastructures by establishing specific mechanisms for participatory governance and management of natural resources. This project is supported technically and financially by the PATRIP foundation, a non-governmental organisation created by the German development bank KfW. It aims to contribute to stabilising fragile cross-border regions, improving secure access to public services and paving the way for cross-border trade to strengthen social cohesion.