primary research from
burkina faso and niger
Key findings
Since the early 1980s, the Sahel region has been faced with severe recurrent food crises that compromise the survival of its most vulnerable inhabitants, who live predominantly in rural areas. Several studies have been conducted to document the impact of the food crises, but these have focused mainly on children under five. The specific impact that these food crises have on adolescent girls and boys has not been fully investigated. The overall aim of this study, therefore, was to carry out research that would explore the effects of food crises on adolescent girls and boys i, and thus help to strengthen protection and coping mechanisms.
Objectives
This study was carried out by Yssa Oumar Basse and Natalie Lucas, from Groupe Stratégies et Leadership. The research had two main objectives: 1 To explore the effects of food crises on adolescent girls’ and boys’ right to protection and participation, and in particular their exposure to sexual exploitation and abuse and child marriage. 2 To investigate the factors making adolescent girls and boys particularly vulnerable or resilient to these threats, and to explore the possibility for leadership opportunities.
Methodology
The study consisted of a literature review and field data collection conducted in Niger and Burkina Faso between October and December 2012. In each country, the team selected three administrative regions affected by recurring food crises.ii Data collection, both qualitative and quantitative, was carried out with the assistance of local researchers in nine communities per region, visiting a total of 27 communities, most of which were located in rural areas. Methods included 990 structured questionnaires; 239 to adolescent girls, 250 to adolescent boys, 251 to mothers or female heads of household and 250 to fathers or male heads of household. There i Adolescent girls and boys aged from 13 to 18. ii The three regions selected in Niger were Tillaberi, Dosso and Maradi; in Burkina Faso the three regions of Kouritenga, Namentenga and Sanmatenga were selected
were three focus group discussions in each region, case studies with adolescent girls and boys, and a wide range of in-depth individual interviews. These involved local community leaders and government representatives, mayors, teachers, social workers, healthcare professionals and NGO representatives. The findings of the research are categorised under survival, health, protection, education, participation and resilience.
SurvIvAL Changing roles
The food crises – and subsequent mental, financial and physical strain – often changed the roles that adolescents played within the family. Teenagers were increasingly relied upon to engage in paid work to increase the family income. Parents had changed their expectations of their children, who have been forced to abandon both childhood and leisure time, assuming adult roles and responsibilities before they are ready to do so. Despite this, most adolescents accepted their new roles as a necessity, even if they were aware of the implications for their own futures.
Child work
In both Burkina Faso and Niger, there was an increase in paid labour due to the food crises. In Burkina Faso, 81 per cent of adolescent boys and 58 per cent of girls said they were regularly obliged to undertake paid work for their families, compared with 75 per cent of boys and 42 per cent of girls before the food crises. Both girls and boys said they went to work in the goldmines, but while boys tended to migrate to mines further away, girls went to sites closer to their communities. In Niger, 60 per cent of adolescents (89.07 per cent of boys and 30.93 per cent of girls) reported that they were regularly obliged to undertake paid work due to the food crises, compared with 31 per cent (39.6 per cent of boys and 22.4 per cent of girls) who had worked before the food crisis. Adolescent boys were most likely to engage in paid employment at times of crisis, leaving to find work in larger towns or abroad, while adolescent girls remained in their communities to undertake unpaid domestic duties of housework and childcare and collecting wild plants for food. 85