Burkina Faso
Overview
CONTEXT
Burkina Faso and Niger are the focus countries for USAID’s resilience agenda in the Sahel. USAID coordinates all of its programs with the Government of Burkina Faso, other donors—particularly G7 member countries under the New Alliance for Nutrition and Food Security—and regional organizations such as the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
APPROACH
Resilience: Burkina Faso is a focus country for USAID’s resilience agenda in the Sahel region. USAID’s resilience programming in Burkina Faso seeks to address the underlying causes of vulnerability and risk, which lead to a cycle of humanitarian crisis and response whenever a climatic or other shock occurs. The Resilience in the Sahel Enhanced Initiative aims to end this vicious cycle and help the Sahel’s most vulnerable people stay firmly on the path to development.
USAID works to transform the behaviors of vulnerable populations related to water and sanitation, nutrition, and health care seeking practices. USAID’s Office of Food for Peace carries out programs in Burkina Faso that provide rural residents with better access to potable water, hygiene, and sanitation and prepare them for the effects of climate change. USAID also helps local partners better manage water for improved incomes and food security.
Capacity Building: With support from the USAID/West Africa Regional Mission, USAID/Burkina Faso facilitates a partnership between U.S.-based Tuskegee University and the International Institute for Water & Environmental Engineering (2iE) in Ouagadougou. The partnership strengthens 2iE’s leadership role in a regional network of Centers of Excellence in water, environmental science, and technology.
USAID is addressing capacity gaps in the WASH sector through direct support to the African Water Association's (AWA) African Water Association Institutional Capacity Building Program. AWA has a mandate to improve sanitation and drinking water supply in West Africa, in addition to sharing knowledge and best WASH practices. AfriCap also includes a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to build the capacity of water quality laboratories in Burkina Faso with the ultimate goal of developing scalable models for laboratory capacity development across West Africa
