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“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” – Henry FordIt is in this spirit that the United Nations System (UNS) in Burkina Faso held, from 9 to 13 March 2026 in Manga, the annual retreat of the Gender, Inclusion and Human Rights Thematic Group (GTGI-DH). More than just a working session, this retreat served as a strategic moment for reflection, collective strengthening, and alignment towards a more coordinated and impactful action.A strategic retreat in a challenging contextFaced with multidimensional security, humanitarian, and social challenges, inter-agency coordination remains a critical lever to ensure effective, coherent, and sustainable responses. This retreat was driven by a clear objective: to assess the achievements of 2025, address gaps, and define ambitious priorities for 2026, while strengthening both technical expertise and group cohesion.For co-lead Djenaba Birane WANE NDIAYE (UN Women), this collective dynamic was essential: “This retreat enabled us to align our visions, clarify our priorities, and strengthen our collective commitment to placing gender, inclusion, and human rights at the heart of the United Nations’ action in Burkina Faso.” Strong inter-agency mobilization for a shared visionThe retreat recorded strong participation from UN agencies, reflecting the importance of gender, human rights, and inclusion issues in the current context of Burkina Faso. A total of 15 agencies participated, with 23 attendees, including 16 women and 7 men, demonstrating a committed and diverse engagement.This representation enriched discussions, fostered cross-sectoral expertise, and reinforced a truly inter-agency approach—essential for responding in a coherent and integrated manner to the country’s complex challenges.Enhanced team dynamics through professional facilitationA key highlight of the retreat was the support of a team-building facilitator, who guided the process throughout. Through structured exercises, well-being sessions, and interactive activities, the facilitator helped to:break down silos between agencies.strengthen mutual trust among participants.improve collaboration methods.encourage active and inclusive participation. These daily well-being moments enhanced focus, creativity, and engagement, while helping to mitigate fatigue linked to sensitive thematic discussions.  As a result, the group emerged more cohesive, aligned, and action oriented. Concrete and structural achievementsThe retreat delivered key results:Validation of the group’s Terms of Reference (ToRs), strengthening governance and coordination mechanisms.Adoption of the 2025 Annual Report, ensuring a shared understanding of achievements and challenges.Development and costing of the 2026 Annual Work Plan, estimated at USD 142,000;Clarification of roles and responsibilities among coordination platforms (PSEA, GBV AoR, GT-EGIAH), reducing duplication and enhancing synergy. As highlighted by co-lead Fatoumata Ki (UNFPA): “Beyond technical discussions, this retreat strengthened our inter-agency cohesion and laid the foundation for a more strategic, effective, and impact-driven collaboration for the most vulnerable populations.” This strengthened structure enhances the GTGI-DH’s role as a strategic coordination mechanism within the United Nations Country Team. Strengthening technical capacitiesThe retreat also provided an opportunity to deepen key thematic areas:Disability inclusion, recognized as a fundamental human right and a priority for action.Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), with emphasis on prevention, complaint mechanisms, and survivor-centered approaches.  Gender Scorecard, a key accountability tool to assess UN performance on gender equality.Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) and integration of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. These sessions helped harmonize understanding and better equip members for more coherent programme implementation. Aligned with global commitmentsDiscussions also addressed the Pact for the Future, a major global commitment aimed at accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strengthening multilateral cooperation. At its core lies a fundamental principle: leave no one behind, guiding all UN interventions, particularly for women, youth, and vulnerable populations.Challenges and way forwardDespite significant progress, several challenges remain:mobilizing resources for the implementation of the 2026 work plan.strengthening data collection and analysis systems.sustaining engagement of group members. Key recommendations included strengthening coordination with the Government, improving accountability mechanisms, enhancing joint resource mobilization, and reinforcing technical capacities and knowledge sharing.Towards a more collective and transformative actionBeyond technical outcomes, the retreat reaffirmed a key conviction: the quality of collaboration determines the quality of impact. By strengthening internal cohesion, clarifying mechanisms, and aligning priorities, the GTGI-DH is now better positioned to drive transformative change in Burkina Faso.More than a meeting, this retreat was a catalyst, transforming a working group into a committed, aligned, and action-ready team determined to ensure that no one is left