Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is a small, landlocked and densely populated country in West Africa. It is one of the poorest in the world, ranked 174 out of 177 countries by the United Nations, where one in five children die before their fifth birthday. There are few schools, health facilities and public services - especially in rural areas. Just over half of the population has access to clean water, while less than 15% have access to sanitation.

Formerly called Upper Volta it regained its independence from France in 1960 and was renamed in 1984. It has since spent many of its post-independence years under military rule and has endured many military coups.

Reducing rainfall levels and recurring droughts have meant more poor rural people, who traditionally rely on farming for a living, are moving to towns and cities looking for work. As a result, unplanned slum and squatter settlements without services like water and sanitation are growing.

WaterAid in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is one of WaterAid's newest country programmes.

Credit: WaterAid / Suzanne Porter

Burkina Faso is one of WaterAid's newest country programmes and the second in Francophone West Africa. Following the success of a pilot project that began in 2001
WaterAid began developing partnerships and programmes in the rural Garango, Ramongo and Bokin districts. In 2003 a Country Representative was appointed and work extended to include Bogodogo and Sigh-Noghin districts in the capital, Ouagadougou. WaterAid now works with seven partner organizations helping some of the poorest people gain access to safe water, sanitation and good hygiene and is increasing its policy work to influence others to do the same.

Project work

Hand made soap provides an income for these women and encourages good hygiene practices.

Credit: WaterAid / Suzanne Porter

WaterAid quickly developed a good reputation in the country - demonstrated in 2004 when the government of Burkina Faso gave WaterAid two awards for its support to deprived communities. The Minister for Economy stated, "The various achievements have contributed to reducing the population's burden in terms of water supply, hygiene and sanitation issues."

WaterAid and its partners carry out a range of projects. For example in Ramongo, WaterAid's partner the Association les Mains Unies du Sahel (AMUS) has been carrying out hygiene education and building and rehabilitating boreholes while WaterAid's partner DAKUPA has been training masons and hygiene education volunteers to help with a latrine building and hygiene programme. In the Koulpeologo province the project is developing the WASH concept (water, sanitation and hygiene for all) in schools. This involves training teachers and encouraging the creation of school health clubs.

Soap production is an innovative scheme, where women make and sell soap. This is enabling women to make money while increasing hand washing - a simple practice that can reduce diarrhoeal diseases by over 40%. WaterAid's partners invest funds for the initial set-up costs, which the women refund once the soap is produced and sold.