Bobo-Dioulasso: The Ministry of Urban Planning and Housing organized a workshop on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Bobo-Dioulasso to disseminate the urban programming framework for local authorities, technical services, urban planners, architects, and real estate developers. This session aims to facilitate the appropriation and effective use of this framework by urban development stakeholders in Burkina Faso.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the framework, adopted by decree on July 31, 2024, provides a coherent technical framework for planning equipment, superstructures, and infrastructure in urban centers, both in rural and urban areas. It was designed to improve urban planning and infrastructure management, taking into account the real needs of populations.
Slimane Hamed Ouattara, Director General of Urban Planning, Development, and Topography, noted that Burkina Faso is evolving in a context marked by increasing land scarcity. "This framework allows for rational land management and coherent planning of facilities in developed areas," he said. The activity will also be rolled out in four other major towns in the country, including Banfora, Koudougou, Tenkodogo, and Ouagadougou.
The president of the special delegation of the commune of Bobo-Dioulasso, Laurent Kontogom, highlighted the many challenges linked to rapid urbanization in the city, including pressure on infrastructure, high demand for housing, land management, and limited access to basic services.
For him, this framework is an essential tool that will enable more inclusive, resilient, and coordinated city planning. "This session will strengthen the synergy between ministerial departments, local authorities, and the private sector," he stated.
The project manager representing the Minister of Urban Planning, Dr. Ferdinand Bako, recalled that the success of this framework depends on its effective adoption by stakeholders in the field. "Urbanization should not be imposed. It must be anticipated, planned, and geared toward the well-being of our populations," he insisted. He also emphasized the need to standardize urban planning practices in order to adapt projects to the needs of the population.
Finally, the Director General specified that the presidents of special delegations (PDS) and the decentralized structures of the State, the primary managers of urban space, must take ownership of this tool to ensure its dissemination to the population and other urban stakeholders.