Water as a lifeline: combating desertification in Burkina Faso with the 3R approach

Burkinabe women constructing a filter dam

Every year, the ground slips further away beneath our feet

Burkina Faso, a Sahelian country, is facing an alarming degradation of its natural resources under the combined effect of climate change, demographic pressure and unsustainable land use (You are leaving this website) . Since the droughts of the 1970s, Burkina Faso has experienced a profound change in its landscapes, including vegetation degradation, denudation and soil crusting. Thus, 34% of the national territory, or 9,234,500 ha of agricultural land, is degraded, with an estimated increase of around 105,000 to 250,000 ha per year over the last 10 years (You are leaving this website) . We are therefore witnessing a decline in soil productivity. However, rainfed agriculture is the main subsistence activity for the population in Burkina Faso.

Map of Sahelian countries; The Sahel is a semi-arid region in Africa, forming a transitional zone between the Sahara Desert to the north and the savannas to the south.

Desertification: more than spreading deserts

Desertification poses a major challenge to the food security of rural populations. The overexploitation dry eco-systems means that field that no longer yields crops, wells dry up prematurely, and dust takes over the land. To halt and reverse the decline in biodiversity, Burkina Faso has committed to restoring 5 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. However, the country is struggling to achieve its goal mainly due to a lack of long-term funding and the exclusion of local communities in the design of most projects.  

What fighting desertification means to us

Ensuring soil water retention and promoting efficient water use are essential to building resilience against desertification. Through the ECDD-GIRE (You are leaving this website) programme (Water, Key to Sustainable Development – Integrated Water Resources Management), we take a community-centred approach by working closely with eight local water committees (CLEs) and collaborating with five regional water agencies in Burkina Faso. The project engages rural households, farmers, cooperatives, and Water User Committees to strengthen local water governance and promote sustainable resource use. Led by a Dutch consortium consisting of World Waternet, Agriterra, and AUXFIN, we propose an innovative approach to combat desertification by integrating Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) grounded in the 3R principle: Retention, Recharge, and Reuse.

ECDD-GIRE intervention zones

Actions to combat desertification

Local populations clearly perceive the increasing degradation of natural resources and propose appropriate strategies for their conservation and ecological restoration. The 3R techniques, widely documented in arid and semi-arid areas, strengthen sustainable water management and ecosystem resilience:

• Recharge contributes to the restoration of groundwater through structures such as stone bunds, half-moons or zaï, which promote water infiltration and reduce runoff.

Local comunity constructing a stone bund.

• Retention, through runoff water collection basins, allows water to be stored during the rainy season for use in the dry season, thus improving access to water for agriculture.
• Finally, reuse encourages multiple uses of available water, contributing to more economical and sustainable management.

Together, these techniques help curb water erosion, restore soil moisture and fertility, stabilize degraded agricultural land, and regenerate poor soils. They represent an effective and appropriate response to the effects of climate change and desertification in Burkina Faso, strengthening the adaptive capacity of local communities while preserving natural ecosystems.

Nature based solutions for dune stabilisation: Euphorbia Balsamifera taking root

In Dori, in the northern region, a sand dune protection activity  by planting Euphorbia Balsamifera was launched with the support of the Liptako Water Agency. At first glance, it may seem modest, but its impact is profound: stabilising dunes, slowing encroachment, protecting farmland and homes. Thanks to the plant’s extraordinary tolerance of difficult conditions &  root system, this type of intervention is highly effective and can significantly reduce erosion.

Burkinabe Women planting Euphorbia Balsamifera

Retaining water using filter dikes

Further west in the Cascades region, in Douna, members of the Local Water Committee received training in filter dike construction, supported by the Cascades Water Agency. The goal is to equip communities with the skills to build simple and effective dike structures using basic materials. These structures help retain rainwater, trap sediments, and restore soil health.

Completed filter dam

Long term water stewardship curbs desertification

Combating desertification is not a one-time intervention but a sustained effort that demands strong water stewardship, long-term commitment, and close collaboration with local communities. These first tangible actions signal a broader impact at the national level. Driven by the five water agencies and targeted Local Water Committees (CLEs), the project will continue to work closely with communities to implement a range of Nature-based Solutions and major initiatives, including the development of five hectares within Ouagadougou’s green belt (You are leaving this website).

Working towards a greener Sahel

This marks a concrete step forward in the fight against desertification in the Sahel and contributes to more climate-resilient water management that supports sustainable development. In partnership with AUXFIN and Agriterra, the project also promotes sustainable agriculture and the digitalisation of best practices to maximise long-term impact.