Sissili: The High Commission of Leo hosted the launch workshop of the 'Pilot Project for the Implementation of the Strategy to End Open Defecation in Urban Areas (SFDAL-MU).' Chaired by the High Commissioner of the Sissili province, Tewende Isaac Sia, the session gathered approximately 70 participants, including technical services, local authorities, civil society organizations, and development partners under the supervision of the General Directorate of Wastewater and Excreta Sanitation (DGAEUE).
According to Burkina Information Agency, this pilot project is part of the efforts of the National Office for Water and Sanitation (ONEA) to eradicate Open Defecation (OD), a practice that remains a major public health challenge in Burkina Faso. Despite progress, with the national rate of DAL falling from 62% in 2010 to 33.6% in 2023, the practice persists, particularly in unplanned urban areas, as noted by Catherine Zoungrana, project manager for the NGO-D/APS.
Under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Sanitation, ONEA, in collaboration with the German development agency (GIZ), has developed the Strategy for the End of Urban Wastewater Treatment (SFDAL-MU), which will be tested and implemented in Leo for a period of twelve months. Operational implementation was entrusted to the NGO-D/APS, with financial support from the General Directorate of ONEA and technical and financial support from UNICEF.
The ultimate goal of this project is to obtain "Open Defecation Free" certification for all five sectors of Leo, benefiting more than 45,967 people who will have access to a cleaner environment. Moussa Sawadogo, Second Vice-President of the Leo Special Delegation, expressed pride in hosting this pilot sanitation project, assuring ONEA and its partners of their commitment to success.
High Commissioner Tewende Isaac Sia highlighted the importance of synergy between the territorial administration, the municipality, technical services, and partners for the project's success, which could be replicated in other cities of Burkina Faso. Begre Ouedraogo, the representative of the national coordinator of NGO D/APS, emphasized the mission to end open defecation in the 5 sectors of Leo.
Participants displayed their commitment to the project's success and were visited by the Burkina Faso Investment Agency (ABI), which announced an upcoming information workshop. As a reminder, all 156 villages in the Sissili region were certified as FAD-free in 2021 by NGO D/APS, except for Leo, which now serves as a laboratory for eradicating FAD in urban areas, paving the way for a healthier future for thousands of households.