Access to water and sanitation in rural areas A policy challenge in Burkina Faso

Description

Access to water and sanitation in rural areas A policy challenge in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso was in some ways a star performer in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector during the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) era.

This case study explores the debates taking place in the sector about how it might build on that in order to achieve universal access.

This target involves new challenges, particularly in providing water for those harder to reach (for hydro-geological and other reasons) and in funding
large-scale sanitation uptake.

It is by no means clear whether the government will be able to deliver the new service levels implied in its plans leading up to 2030.

The case study focuses on the challenge of rural WASH in Burkina Faso, because that is where the biggest deficits in access lie, particularly in respect of sanitation. Urban WASH access is near universal, with the urban operator recognised as one of the best in Africa.

The case study ends with discussion questions focused on the issues the sector is grappling with, the aim being to use one country’s experience as a framework to explore the very similar challenges faced by many other African countries