Burkina Faso's new sanitation directorate

Government plans will increase access to sanitation.

Credit: WaterAid / Suzanne Porter

14 November 2008

The Cabinet has announced that a new sanitation directorate will be developed in Burkina Faso as part of a restructure of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Fisheries.

This decision comes after many years of lobbying by WaterAid and the water, sanitation and hygiene sector particularly during the nation’s annual World Toilet Day celebrations.

The new directorate will be specifically focused on sanitation whereas previously, there was only one directorate responsible for water and sanitation, with a joint budget.

Sanitation activities in the country will now have a dedicated budget and plans which will also improve monitoring and evaluation in the sector.

"We are so pleased about this decision to finally include sanitation in a top level ministry, this shows a political will to change the situation where only 14% of people in Burkina Faso have access to sanitation in urban areas and 10 % in rural areas," said Yéréfolo Mallé, County Representative.

"We have been working hard and pushing for this for many years. This is the first step towards a ministry of sanitation, our main goal."