Synthèse des missions du Représentant Permanent Adjoint du Burkina Faso à Rome auprès de la FAO, du FIDA et du PAM

Abstract

The paper assesses the mandate of the Deputy Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to FAO, IFAD, and WFP between 2015 and 2020, using the SOSRA method. The mandate took place in a challenging national context marked by food insecurity, the climate crisis, and security instability. The main objective was to represent the country's interests, negotiate financing aligned with national priorities and contribute to strengthening coordination between UN agencies. The assessment presents mixed results. Successes include significant resource mobilization for resilience programs, effective advocacy to target vulnerable regions, and improved agency coordination. Major challenges included administrative burdens and mismatches between overall strategies and field needs. The experience was marked by an emotional duality—between pride in contributing to national development and frustration with the slowness of administrative processes and the magnitude of systemic challenges.  The analysis highlights the crucial importance of informal diplomacy, appropriate communication, and recognition of the limitations of the project-based approach in the face of challenges requiring systemic solutions. The report recommends to 1) strengthen collaborative monitoring between Rome and Ouagadougou, 2) train diplomats in multilateral negotiation, 3) develop proactive communication and 4) capitalize on successes for future advocacy. Despite a complex context, the mandate enables significant progress. The lessons learned should be used to strengthen the effectiveness of Burkinabe representation within UN agencies.