Safe water supply for Pagalaga, Burkina Faso

Pagalaga is located in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso and is a hilly and dry area. People live here from small scale agriculture and cattle breeding. Water is drawn from a borehole located 5 km away, leaving people, mostly women and children, no other option but to walk for at least 2 hours to fetch water (not including time for queing).

Goals overview

Provide a water supply at a household level (12 m3 per household) to at least overcome the dry period, for drinking and other small domestic uses. Setup training and awareness sessions on operation, maintenance and management of rainwater harvesting systems to ensure a sustainable water supply. Create training and awareness on water quality issues related to the rainwater harvesting systems.

Current status

The project will start as soon as funding is found. When funding is found, the project might start later due to the rainy season, during which construction is complicated.

Project plan

AGED is a trusted RAIN partner since 2008. Within their target area, the need and relevance for water harvesting is extremely important.

Expected outcomes

• 7 household RWH systems to provide people with safe water
• 7 people trained on operation, maintenance and management
• Awareness raised on water quality at 7 households

The approach within this project is that the responsibility of the project lies with the beneficiaries. In all the project phases, the beneficiaries are leading in taking initiatives, formulating their ideas and making suggestions.The project staff of AGED will give advice, adjust and train the beneficiaries to create awareness to manage the project after construction is finalised. A committee will be created to arrange meetings with all beneficiaries and facilitate communication with the project staff. Women have a leading role in this committee, since they are the ones who are responsible for fetching and managing water.

AGED will carefully monitor the quality of the work during and after construction, both on technical and social issues concerning the rainwater harvesting tanks. Each household will get a training on hygienic handling of the water as well as on maintenance of the rainwater harvesting tanks.