In the latest IPC Acute Malnutrition (AMN) analysis of the country, of the 45 provinces of Burkina Faso, 31 provinces were analysed. In total, it is estimated that nearly 400,000 children under the age of five will likely suffer from acute malnutrition at national level between August 2022 and July 2023. Of these, nearly a quarter are expected to experience Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). A further 80,000 pregnant and lactating women are also expected to be acutely malnourished in this period. While it is difficult to compare these figures to the 2021 IPC AMN analysis for Burkina Faso, because of the difference in coverage, the general trend of deterioration in the nutritional situation can be noted.

Of the 31 provinces analysed, for the current situation of August 2022 - January 2023 (main peak of malnutrition), four provinces are classified in a Serious nutritional situation (IPC Phase 3), while the rest are classified in an Alert (IPC Phase 2) or Acceptable (IPC Phase 1) nutritional situation. Of the six communes analysed, two are classified in a Critical nutritional situation (IPC Phase 4), while four are classified in a Serious situation. In the first projection period, from February to April 2023, the situation will likely improve for seven provinces, remain the same for 25, and deteriorate for one - Bazéga province - which will likely move from IPC Phase 1 to 2. In addition, the situation will likely deteriorate significantly in the communes analysed, with three communes moving from IPC Phase 3 to 4: Bani, Gorgadji and Gorom-Gorom. The other communes will likely remain in the same situation. In the second projection period, from May to July 2023, the situation will likely be the worst from the three analysis periods, with a marked deterioration for eight provinces in particular. No province will likely see its situation improve, while 22 provinces and the six communes will likely remain in the same phase as the first projection period.

Of the 31 provinces and six communes (Dori, Bani, Gorgadji, in the province of Seno, Gorom-Gorom in the province of Oudalan in the Sahel region, and the two communes (Fada, Gayéri) in the eastern region of the provinces of Gourma and Komandjoari respectively) analysed, almost half of these areas are experiencing population displacement due to the deteriorating security situation. Most of these areas are classified in an Alert (IPC AMN Phase 2) or Serious situation of acute malnutrition (IPC AMN Phase 3). Urgent and early interventions are needed to reverse or contain any deterioration in the nutritional status of vulnerable people (children under five and FEFA) and trends in acute malnutrition.

In the short-term:

•Strengthen surveillance and control measures for COVID-19;

•Ensure that all children under five and pregnant and lactating women suffering from acute malnutrition have access to quality treatment in order to reduce the mortality rate among this population;

•Strengthen Integrated management of childhood illness  (IMCI) and Community Maternal and Child Health (capacity of Community-Based Health Workers (CBHWs) to manage malaria, diarrhoea, ARI, etc. at home) and the use of simplified approaches for the management of malnourished people;

•Strengthen the surveillance and management of IDPs in the areas where they are received;

•Anticipate the implementation of an emergency food assistance system for populations in Cadre Harminisé (CH) Acute Food Insecurity Phase 3 or above, integrating protection programmes for children under five and pregnant and breastfeeding women;

•Strengthen security arrangements in affected areas;

•Strengthen surveillance of diseases with epidemic potential;

•Strengthen surveillance and management of IDPs in the areas receiving them;

•Ensure access to safe water and sanitation for IDPs;

•Improve the availability of drugs and nutritional inputs used in the management of acute malnutrition;

•Strengthen the MEO of innovative strategies that allow access to basic social services in areas of difficult access (mobile clinics, Advanced Health Posts);

•Continue the implementation of the PISA (integrated package of IYCF services);

•Strengthen surveillance measures and adequate management of common diseases (diarrhoea, malaria, ARI, measles) for mothers and children;

•Apply measures to control the prices of products on the market;

•Strengthen the purchasing power of vulnerable households through cash transfers;

•Strengthen the promotion of good hygiene and sanitation practices (at health centre and community level);

•Strengthen the coordination of the humanitarian response at all levels;

•Promote the strategy of task delegation in provinces with high security challenges to ensure continuity of health services;

•Carry out a rapid nutritional assessment in areas of limited access where no recent survey has provided data on the nutritional status of the population.

In the mid- to long-term:

•Improve access to drinking water and sanitation services and increase awareness of the use of sanitation facilities (particularly in informal settlements to combat diseases such as diarrhoea and malaria);

•Intensify awareness-raising among women on good feeding practices as well as those for infants and young children;

•Strengthen resilience interventions for IDPs;

•Strengthen community awareness on early attendance at health centres;

•Strengthen food support for host households and IDPs in conflict areas, integrating protection programmes for children under five and pregnant and lactating women;

•Review and implement health risk preparedness and response plans;

•Strengthen social protection interventions for the most vulnerable households (hosts and IDPs);

•Strengthen the coordination of different interventions (nutrition cluster, consultation frameworks, etc.).