Since early 2019, Burkina Faso has faced protracted humanitarian challenges, primarily driven by insecurity and the intensification of armed group activities in the “Three Borders” area between Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Physical barriers continue to restrict the movement of people and goods in some areas, limiting the availability of goods in local markets and access to basic social services, with significant impacts on living conditions. According to the Humanitarian Response Plan, 4.5 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance in 2026.

IMPACT Initiatives has been present in Burkina Faso since 2019, in partnership with Acted, primarily through its REACH initiative. Since 2020, REACH has monitored the humanitarian situation in accessible and hard-to-reach areas of the Three Borders region along the borders with Mali and Niger. REACH now conducts nationwide Multi-Sector Needs Assessments (MSNAs) to inform humanitarian planning, coordination and response prioritisation. It also conducts area-based and population group assessments to support local coordination, particularly among Clusters. REACH’s work has further expanded to include research on climate shocks using spatial analysis methods.