Local perspectives in Burkina Faso

22 July 2021

Since 2016, we have been working with the five Agences de l'Eau in Burkina, the water authorities that are responsible for the implementation of integrated water resources management. We do this in the 'Faso Koom' programme, together with other Dutch Water Authorities Drents Overijsselse Delta, Hunze en Aa’s, Brabantse Delta and Noorderzijlvest. With support from the NWB Fund, local partners were given the opportunity to share their personal stories and water-related challenges from a local perspective. In five short films each of the Agences de l'Eau and the communities share their challenges.

Water authorities in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is a landlocked, low-income country in West Africa. All rivers originate within the country's borders. Therefore, integrated water resources management is crucial. Burkina Faso is working on decentralising the management of its water resources. In 2011, the first Agence de l'Eau was formally established. In the following years, four more followed. The five water authorities are responsible for implementation of integrated water resources management in Burkina Faso. Doing so, they ensure an equitable distribution of water resources to water users.

The aim of the partnership between the Dutch and the Burkinabé is to support these young but ambitious organisations on their way to becoming professional and competent water authorities. The 'Faso Koom' programme started in 2016 with funding from the NWB Fund (). In 2019, the Faso Koom programme continued as part of the Blue Deal programme. Watch the five short films in which each of the Agences de l'Eau and the communities share their challenges here: