Climate change and rural sanitation (Burkina Faso)

The objective of this study carried out in the Gourma province in Burkina Faso, is to contribute to the evaluation of the impacts of climate risks on the achievement and maintenance of the End of Open Defecation (EOD) in rural communities in this locality. To achieve this, a participatory and qualitative approach through focus groups and individual interviews was used. The results obtained show that climatic risks such as increased flooding, droughts and violent winds constitute an additional difficulty to the expansion of sanitation coverage in the locality, thus calling into question the gains already made. One of the major consequences of climatic hazards on local sanitation is that they contribute to some extent to the damage of latrines. This situation increases the demand for reconstruction and therefore the long-term commitment to obtain or maintain FDAL status. In addition to impacts on latrines, climate hazards affect rural sanitation through other channels such as livelihoods, resources and markets supporting sanitation. Highlighting all of these impacts underscores the need for changes that focus not only on technological improvements but also on addressing the indirect impacts of climate risks on sanitation. This requires multi-sectoral collaboration between sanitation and livelihoods actors. On the other hand, it involves a necessary modification of behavior change activities and hygiene and sanitation communication to adapt to the new climate realities. Integrating all of these solutions into hygiene and sanitation programming could effectively contribute to the sector’s resilience to climate risks.