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How might civil society innovation help transform justice in Burkina Faso and Niger? Our Civil Society Organisations (CSO) Innovation Programme is tackling this important question. The programme is designed to assist local organisations in Burkina Faso and Niger in addressing critical justice issues directly. Dedicated to fostering innovative initiatives that prevent and resolve pressing legal problems, in Burkina Faso, the programme tackles land conflicts, family disputes, and domestic violence while focusing on land conflicts in Niger. Here’s a snapshot of our focus areas:
Burkina Faso: A Landscape of Justice Challenges
- Land Conflicts: Land issues are at the forefront of justice problems in Burkina Faso, affecting nearly 40% of those experiencing legal problems. Factors such as weak land governance, soil degradation, and competing land tenure regimes fuel these disputes, hitting rural, less educated, and poorer populations hardest.
- Family Disputes: Accounting for 12% of legal problems, family issues impact tens of thousands annually, predominantly affecting women. Deeply ingrained traditional gender roles, economic instability, and inadequate access to basic services contribute to these challenges.
- Domestic Violence: Burkina Faso faces high rates of gender-based violence, with economic factors, power dynamics, and societal norms playing significant roles in perpetuating this issue. Surprisingly, a large proportion of women find certain acts of domestic violence acceptable, highlighting the need for transformative social change.
Niger: Navigating Land Conflicts Amidst Growth and Climate Challenges
- Land Conflicts: Representing a major justice issue for 27% of those facing legal challenges, land disputes in Niger often arise from intra-family conflicts, clashes between pastoralists and farmers, and disagreements with traditional chiefs over land use. Rapid population growth, climate change, and inadequate land administration systems exacerbate these conflicts.
For both countries, the root causes of these justice issues are deeply intertwined with socio-economic, environmental, and governance factors. Addressing them requires a holistic approach that combines legal innovation with community engagement and education.
Through a rigorous selection process, we will identify and support three to four small-scale initiatives that demonstrate operational experience and a track record of success in utilising innovative approaches addressing the mentioned challenges in Burkina Faso and Niger.
The programme is structured around three key components: in-person training sessions, online sessions, and personalised coaching. These components are designed to offer crucial support and ensure the lasting impact of participating initiatives. Alongside the training and coaching, chosen initiatives stand to gain financial contributions of up to €10,000, intended to streamline the implementation process further.
Eligibility Criteria
We kindly urge all potential applicants to carefully review the eligibility criteria before submitting their applications:
- Operational Experience: Applicants must showcase relevant operational experience with a realistic plan and a history of success in thematic areas.
- Project Scope Alignment: Proposed projects should focus on strengthening justice systems, providing legal services, prioritising vulnerable groups, and offering innovative solutions.
- Innovation and Thematic Focus: Initiatives must present innovative, people-centred solutions aligned with addressing land and housing issues.
- Legal Registration: While applicants are not mandated to be legally registered, it is preferred.
- Commitment to Program Components: Applicants must commit to participating in all three program components, including physical and online training, as well as coaching sessions. Failure to complete the program or missing one or more components will result in disqualification for the financial contribution.
Selection Criteria
In addition to the eligibility criteria, candidates are encouraged to review the following selection criteria
- Team Capabilities and Experience: Demonstrated leadership and expertise in Land conflicts, Domestic violence and Family disputes for Burkina Faso and Land conflicts in Niger
- Understanding of the Problem and Potential Impact: Applicants should exhibit a comprehensive understanding of the addressed problem and articulate a clear vision for achieving meaningful and sustainable impact.
- Feasibility of the Proposed Initiative: Applicants must present a feasible and realistic implementation plan, ensuring the initiative’s viability and successful execution, regardless of whether it leverages cutting-edge technology.
- Alignment with Programme’s Objectives: Proposed solutions must effectively address justice issues and align with the program’s objectives and priorities, aiming to promote people-centred justice.
- Innovativeness of the Initiative: Applicants should highlight the innovative aspects of their solution and explain how it offers unique advantages or improvements compared to existing approaches, demonstrating creativity and originality.
Timeline:
- Applications open: April 8th
- Deadline: May 3rd
- Selection period: May 6th to May 30th
- Programme kick-off: June 12th
- Training sessions: June to September
- Final sharing event: October or November 2024 (TBC)
For questions about the programme, please contact:
- Niger: Razak Yekini
- Burkina Faso: Cédric Tapsoba
