Empowering Sahel’s Displaced Women Through Sewing Initiatives

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In the heart of the Sahel, a region struggling with insecurity, population displacement, and poverty, the Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (PCRSS) brings a bit of hope. The governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger work together with the World Bank and other partners on this ambitious initiative.

This $352.5 million project focuses on emergency responses, economic recovery, peacebuilding, and security. One part that really stands out is its support for women and young people in Burkina Faso, giving them tools and training to start or revive income-generating activities, especially in tailoring.

Empowering Women Through Tailoring

The PCRSS project has made real progress empowering women in Burkina Faso by offering equipment and training. In Ouahigouya, a northern town, Safiatou Ouédraogo, a second-year learner at the Centre d’éducation de base non formelle (CEBNF), remembers how tough things were last year.

With just a few sewing machines, students waited weeks to practice. Now, thanks to 85 new sewing machines, only three or four students have to share each one.

Learning feels more effective, and students are gaining confidence and independence. The difference is almost night and day.

Modernizing Equipment

In Boussouma, over in the Centre-North region, things used to be even worse. Thirty-seven learners had to share just three old machines.

With 50 new machines added, students can finally practice together instead of waiting around. The equipment includes:

  • Sewing machines
  • Irons
  • Tables
  • Tape measures
  • Fabrics
  • Scissors
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They picked these items after talking with the community, making sure they matched what people actually needed. Internally displaced people and vulnerable host communities both benefit.

Supporting Displaced and Vulnerable Populations

In Djibo, up north, 140 people—men and women who are displaced or considered vulnerable—have received sewing machines. Many already had tailoring experience but lost everything because of insecurity.

Since May 2022, 337 sewing kits have gone out, costing about 15,000,000 FCFA in total. This step has given people a shot at rebuilding their lives.

Success Stories

Claire Ouédraogo at the Korsimoro Center in the Center-North region is one of those beneficiaries. She wants to open her own workshop once she finishes training.

Her goals? Success, a steady income, and long-term self-sufficiency. Managers of centers feel the difference too.

Ambroise Korgo, a manager at CEBNF in Korsimoro, shared that they used to rely on outdated equipment from 1995. It was expensive to keep running.

Now, thanks to the project, they’ve replaced those old machines and modernized the setup. It makes a world of difference for everyone involved.

A Collaborative Effort

PCRSS-Burkina Faso lines up with the Burkina Government’s Stabilization and Development Action Plan. It supports objective SO 3.5 of pillar 2, focusing on the humanitarian crisis.

The project runs until December 31, 2026, covering the Centre-Nord, Nord, and Sahel regions. It takes a regional approach, which feels like the only way to tackle these challenges.

Community Involvement

Community involvement plays a big role in the project’s progress. Some municipalities provide equipment for centers, while others prefer to offer direct support to individuals.

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This flexibility means the support fits each community’s needs. It’s not a one-size-fits-all deal, and that’s probably why it works.

The Impact of PCRSS

On February 19, 2025, in Kougoussi, Colonel-Major Blaise Ouédraogo, Governor of the Centre-North region, summed it up: The PCRSS has given hope to the populations to live.

It’s not just about sewing machines or kits. The PCRSS helps plant seeds of resilience where hope seemed gone. By giving practical tools designed with communities in mind, it helps displaced women dream again, rebuild, and aim for a life with dignity.

Building a Stronger Sahel

Behind each machine, there’s a hand that learns. There’s a voice that rises, a life that slowly takes shape again.

The project helps build a Sahel that’s stronger, more united, and deeply human. Its impact reaches beyond just handing out equipment or offering training.

It brings a sense of community and resilience. Hope starts to grow among the people involved, and suddenly, they can imagine a better future for themselves and their families.

Curious to know more about the PCRSS project and what it’s doing in the Sahel? Check out the World Bank’s feature on empowering displaced women in the Sahel.

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