Mission to Support the AdaptWAP Project in Burkina Faso: Progress and New Partnerships

From September 18 to 30, 2023, a support mission for the AdaptWAP project took place in Burkina Faso, specifically in Ouagadougou and Fada Ngourma. The main objective was to accelerate the implementation of on-the-ground activities while strengthening partnerships with relevant government departments and services.

The OSS team, composed of Youssouf AMADOU, a technical assistant, and Emmanuel SAWADOGO, an environmental expert, addressed three major themes during this mission: the development of fishing infrastructure and the promotion of fish farming, the establishment of a Multi-Risk Early Warning System (SAP-MR), and the launch of the AdaptWAP Green Credit.

Regarding the development of fishing infrastructure, specific sites were selected, but challenges such as water flow, land titles, and intercommunal conflicts were identified. A feasibility study will be conducted in collaboration with the Directorate General of Fisheries Resources to address these challenges.

Concerning the Multi Risk Early Warning System, currently in the design phase, meetings were held with national actors such as the National Meteorological Agency of Burkina Faso, the Directorate General of Water Resources, and the Executive Secretariat of CONASUR. A tripartite protocol between the OSS, OFINAP, and ANAM-BF was initiated to concretize the establishment of this multi-risk early warning system, a central element of the AdaptWAP project.

As for the green credit envisaged by the AdaptWAP project, discussions were held with UGPn, OFINAP, and FONAFI to establish a technical team responsible for developing the management document and partnership protocol.

Finally, during the field visit, the OSS delegation was able to observe concrete climate change adaptation actions carried out by local associations, such as agroforestry, assisted natural regeneration and reforestation, with an activity completion rate approaching 90%.