Experts share experiences on climate-sensitive sanitation technologies and financing in West Africa
August 21, 2024
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Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, August 21, 2024 – Fifty participants, 40% of them women, have concluded a two-day experience and knowledge sharing workshop on innovative, climate–sensitive sanitation technologies and sanitation financing best practices. The Workshop, held from 20-21 August 2024 in Ouagadougou brought together officials from the Government of Burkina Faso, representatives of the private sector, non-governmental organizations and academic and research institutions. They were joined by GGGI staff members from Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire.
The workshop was organized as part of the Promoting Citywide Inclusive Sanitation through Climate Resilience in West Africa (CWIS) project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in collaboration with the Governments of Burkina Faso, Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire. In Burkina Faso, the project is implemented in collaboration with the General Directorate for Wastewater and Excreta Disposal at the Ministry of the Environment.
This knowledge sharing workshop aimed to identify financing levers sanitation and to disseminate innovative climate-sensitive sanitation technologies among participants. Additionally, it provided a platform to raise awareness about opportunities for countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the sanitation sector and the importance of incorporating safe and improved sanitation practices and technologies into countries climate plans and policies.
The representative of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Water and Sanitation in charge of studies explained some reasons of Burkina Faso low rate of sanitation. Moussa Bruno Kafando said: “social and cultural constraints, the low level of self-help latrine installation by households, the expansion of informal settlements and the continuing increase in demand for sanitation infrastructure in areas receiving internally displaced persons are not conducive to raising the national sanitation rate”. The commitment of all actors involved in the sanitation sector and the raising of public awareness are needed to increase the level of sanitation in the country.
According to Dethie Ndiaye, the country representative of GGGI Burkina Faso: “Sharing knowledge about innovation in sanitation is vital if all the players are to be at the same level of knowledge and achieve synergies in their actions”.
Like in most sub-Saharan countries, Burkina Faso faces significant challenges in access to improved sanitation. Through the Promoting Citywide Inclusive Sanitation through Climate Resilience in West Africa project, GGGI and government partners are working to chart pathways to contribute to reducing GHG emissions from the sanitation sector and improving livelihoods by mainstreaming sanitation into national development planning. It will also create an enabling environment for sustainable infrastructure investments and operations including through improved access to climate financing, and regional knowledge sharing.
Participants in the workshop benefited from experience sharing on water treatment facilities, Public-Private Partnerships in the Construction and Management of Public Toilets, Sanitation Policies and the incorporation of sanitation in Real Estate Development in Burkina Faso, among other case studies presented. They also discussed strategies to mobilize private sector investment in the sanitation and waste management sectors as well as ways to better integrate and streamline sewerage management systems in the construction sector.
Participants during groups discussions