CARE Canada

Published purpose

November 2024 – The central Sahel (Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger) is facing multiple humanitarian crises driven by armed conflict, internal and cross-border displacement, high rates of acute food insecurity and malnutrition, and gaps in emergency health services. In 2024, 1 in 5 people in the central Sahel countries (approximately 17.7 million people) requires humanitarian assistance. With GAC’s support, CARE Canada is providing multi-sectoral assistance to 721,077 displaced persons and host communities in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The initiative focuses on responding to the urgent health, nutrition, and protection needs of particularly vulnerable groups, including pregnant and lactating women, persons with disabilities, adolescents and young mothers, infants and children under 5, and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Project activities include: (1) providing primary health services via health facilities and mobile teams, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and psycho-social support (PSS); (2) supporting the rehabilitation and maintenance of health facilities providing essential services to crisis-affected populations; (3) distributing dignity, hygiene and essential kits to targeted women and girls; (4) establishing and training of community liaisons and outreach groups on key health, protection, and nutrition issues, including SRH, SGBV, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), and infant and young child feeding (IYCF); (5) conducting regular screening and monitoring for moderate and severe acute malnutrition (MAM and SAM); (6) providing nutrition treatment services and referrals for MAM and SAM cases; (7) establishing maternal, infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN) safe spaces in health facilities; (8) establishing and maintaining women and girls safe spaces, including PSS, case management and referral services for SGBV; and (9) organizing SGBV awareness campaigns with key stakeholders, such as community leaders and relevant security actors.