Blue Deal - 'Faso Koom' (Burkina Faso)

Supporting water authorities in Burkina Faso on Integrated Water Resources Management

Background

Burkina Faso is a landlocked and low-income country in West Africa. All rivers originate within the country’s borders. Therefore, proper integrated water resources management is crucial. Burkina Faso is working to decentralize its water resources management. In 2011, the first Agence de l’Eau (regional water authority) was formally created. Another 4 followed in the years after. The five Agences de l’Eau are responsible for the implementation of integrated water resources management in Burkina Faso. Doing so, the Agences de l’Eau (AE) are making sure the water resources are equitably distributed amongst the water users. The aim of this partnership is to support these young but ambitious organizations in their way to becoming professional and skilled water authorities. 

The 'Faso Koom' programme was initiated in 2016 with funding from the NWB Bank (see: 'Faso Koom').

Our impact

This project aims to build capacity at the young regional water authorities in Burkina Faso, so that they will be able to safeguard their water resources. The project is managed by the 'Faso Koom' programme, meaning 'water of the fatherland' in the local language Mooré.

Activities

The project focuses on water governance, the development of water management plans, the setup of water monitoring programs, the introduction of water taxes and the support of local water committees. As spin-off of this project, we realise anti-erosion measures and restore soil fertility through reforestation, in cooperation with APAF (funded by Hunze en Aa's and NWB).

Results

• The ‘Gold Project’, under this programme we seek to assess the impact of the (formal and informal) gold mining industry on the water system. We are looking into solutions for water re-use and retention, together with the local communities and the mining sector.
• A water quantity monitoring system is put in place and forms the basis for equitable and efficient water allocation to all users.
• Realising the creation of three ‘Communite Local d’Eau’ (CLEs) in Burkina Faso, which will catalyse (the process of) integrated water resources management.

Project updates

Every two months a newsletter is published (in French) containing the latest project developments. You can subscribe by sending a message to [email protected] (). You can also follow the FASO KOOM LinkedIn group () for updates (in English).