Advancing WASH governance: Strengthening partnerships for SDG achievement in Burkina Faso

Published on: 25/11/2024

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The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a rallying call for global partnerships to ensure a sustainable future. In Burkina Faso, where water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services remain critical, a continuity of impactful projects underscores the importance of partnerships in tackling persistent challenges. The European Union’s commitment, demonstrated through successive funding cycles, and its partnership with IRC Burkina has been pivotal in strengthening local governance and addressing WASH needs in vulnerable regions.

Building on the success of the 2020-2022 project, the European Union has extended its collaboration with IRC Burkina through a €3.8 million initiative running until 2027. This blog explores the synergies between the two projects and highlights the ongoing journey towards achieving SDG 6 in Burkina Faso. 

From foundations to new horizons

The initial milestone: Strengthening local governance

The first phase, with a funding of €2.5 million and implemented between 2020 and 2022, focused on enhancing the leadership capacity of 93 municipalities (from four regions) in managing WASH services. Key achievements included:

• Training over 500 communal agents and technical staff to improve governance and infrastructure management.
• Establishing a digital platform for monitoring water supply systems, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Developing three regional and five communal strategic plans aligned with Burkina Faso’s National Water Strategy (SNE), for achieving SDG 6.

This project proved that strengthening local governance systems creates sustainable change by empowering municipalities to lead WASH service delivery effectively. 

The next chapter: Expanding impact in the Centre-Ouest region

With the new €3.8 million funding, the focus shifts to scaling the gains from the earlier project while addressing acute challenges in the Centre-Ouest region, one of the regions covered by the previous project, where access to safe water and sanitation is critically low. This initiative will:

• Improve water supply for over 37,000 people, including vulnerable groups such as women, children, and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
• Build 15 water supply systems and 450 sanitation facilities, prioritising schools and health centres.
• Enhance municipal capacity for infrastructure planning, resource mobilisation, and contract management with private operators. 

A model of partnership and commitment

The role of the European Union

The EU’s continued investment signals its unwavering commitment to fostering resilience and equity in access to basic services in Burkina Faso. This partnership exemplifies how multilateral cooperation can drive impactful local solutions, particularly in fragile contexts.

IRC’s expertise and vision

IRC’s proven track record in WASH governance ensures that projects are not only implemented but also sustainable. By leveraging its expertise, IRC catalyses institutional learning, promotes systems strengthening and accountability, and ensures that solutions are tailored to local realities.

Connecting the dots: Why continuity matters

The ongoing collaboration between the EU and IRC is more than a funding arrangement—it’s a testament to the power of long-term partnerships in achieving systemic change. The new project builds on the foundation laid by its predecessor, leveraging key tools such as:

• The regional investment plan for water supply, developed during the earlier project.
• A robust digital monitoring platform, which now serves as a cornerstone for accountability in water management.

These synergies not only ensure cost efficiency but also accelerate the path toward SDG 6, proving that well-planned projects have a multiplier effect.

Looking ahead: Towards SDG 6

The Centre-Ouest project demonstrates that targeted interventions in governance and infrastructure can have transformative impacts. By combining capacity-building, strategic planning, and infrastructure development, the initiative addresses the immediate needs of vulnerable populations while laying the groundwork for sustainable progress.

As we approach 2030, Burkina Faso’s journey towards universal access to water and sanitation will hinge on the strength of partnerships like this. The EU and IRC’s ongoing collaboration offers a blueprint for success: empower local actors, build resilient systems, and prioritise sustainability.

This new chapter in WASH governance in Burkina Faso is a beacon of hope and a reminder that achieving the SDGs requires steadfast commitment, innovative approaches, and the courage to build on past successes. Together, we can ensure that every drop of effort counts towards a future where no one is left behind.