Integrated guinea fowl breeding, Burkina Faso The applicant Sahel Bio S.A. and local partner Société Pharmaceutique Vétérinaire S.A.R.L (Sophavet) will establish a hatchery and nursery facility for helmeted guinea fowls in the region of Saaba in the Kadiogo Province. The one week old keets will be sold to local farmers for further husbandry and meat or eggs. The joint venture will train twelve field workers who will train the farmers in how to raise the keets. In twelve weeks’ time, the farmers can sell the guinea fowls or raise the female keets for the eggs. The project will have a positive impact in a rural area and create additional income for an estimated 800, mostly female, farmers. The project has a positive contribution to family nutrition and food security and supports the Government policy from subsistence farming to more commercial farming.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The raising of healthy guinea fowls demands ample housing with enough fresh air and sheltering against heat during the dry season. The farmers will be instructed on how to set up this housing. Farmers that do not meet the required standards will be suspended or removed from the client list. Child labour will not be tolerated amongst the clients and suppliers. The partners will not give in to corruption and bribery. The employees, strategic suppliers and clients will be informed on this policy.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsThe employees will have fixed contracts with salaries, on average 33% above living wage. The lowest wage will be 90 euro per month. Other benefits are a health insurance, pension, compensation of travel costs, paid sick leave, work clothing, paying of overtime and childcare.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeThe product and the production method with a professional hatchery and cooperation with farmers are new to the country. Guinea fowls already exist in Burkina Faso but they are semi-wild, reproduction is done by collecting the eggs which are hatched by domesticated chickens.•	Chain effectsImpact on local suppliersLocal companies that will benefit from activities in the project are feed companies, financial service providers, the gas station and mechanics for the transport of the keets. With all of those companies long term contracts are foreseen.The project helps the farmers to set up a new commercial business which is more profitable than raising chickens. A potential of 800 farmers can have a profitable business and increase their standard of living of themselves and their families. Thanks to husbandry and sales profits they can evolve from subsistence farmers to more commercial poultry elevators.Market vendors, supermarkets and restaurants will have locally raised guinea fowls as an alternative protein rich food. They can diversify their product range and attract new customers.A large availability of guinea fowls and eggs will lead on the long term to a better price for the end consumers and better access to an alternative protein rich source of food.•	Impact on the sectorThe project will set an example for the poultry sector. A collaboration with NGOs and universities on guinea fowl husbandry is foreseen. The joint venture will share experience with farmers, suppliers and other stakeholders. They intend to work together on the development of a steady supply of quality feed and will exchange knowledge to professionalize the poultry sector in terms of health, hygiene and animal welfare.•	EnvironmentThe partners strive to keep the vaccinations as minimal as possible. Actions will be taken to prevent environmental- and health risks. For the heating of the young keets charcoal dust briquettes will be used because of the slow heat release, in addition it is more eco-friendly and reduces the mortality rate. The bird manure will be used by the farmers on the fields and increase the yield of the crops.•	Position of womenThe majority of the employees and field workers will be female. This will attract other female farmers who can start a business with the husbandry of the guinea fowl keets. The income of the rural families will increase and female entrepreneurship is stimulated with the project.•	Impact on food safetyA positive contribution to family nutrition and food security, as the farmers can use part of their production for their own use and the profits for the subsistence of their families. The production of 1,15 million of Guinea fowl keets for local husbandry by 800 farmers.