Ouagadougou: The works carried out by the Integrated Program for Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin (PIDACC/BN), Burkina Faso component, contribute to reducing the vulnerability of rural populations to the effects of climate change by improving access to water, agro-pastoral production and the restoration of degraded lands, AIB observed during a joint monitoring and supervision mission.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the mission, led by the Directorate General of Water Resources and including the Network of Journalists and Communicators of the Niger Basin, took place from July 12 to 18, 2026. The team visited several key achievements of the program in the regions of Nakamb, Nazinon, Nando, and Oubri. A notable investment is the Nakaba pastoral watering hole in Bascour, Kourittenga province, with a 25,000 m³ capacity. This facility is crucial for providing water to 20,000 head of livestock, thus easing the burden of long transhumance journeys and water access challenges during the dry season.
To ensure the sustainability of the watering point, PIDACC established a 10-member management committee, including three women. Committee president Noraogo Niodogo expressed relief, noting that the project has significantly alleviated the challenges faced by livestock farmers. "Before, our animals traveled long distances to drink and could go two days without water. Today, the animals' needs are met thanks to the bouli, while borehole water remains reserved for the people," he explained.
In Soalga, Ganzourgou province, a second pastoral reservoir with a similar capacity is under construction. Beneficiaries there anticipate that this infrastructure will resolve ongoing conflicts over borehole use between local communities and herders. Madeleine Kabor, a beneficiary, shared, "We are often forced to share boreholes with animals. This watering hole will considerably improve our living conditions and our pastoral production."
Beyond water infrastructure, PIDACC is actively investing in land restoration to sustainably boost agricultural incomes. In Soalga, the program has constructed stone bunds over 40 hectares to restore degraded soils by slowing rainwater runoff, promoting infiltration, and improving yields. The forestry lieutenant remarked that this technique counters the adverse effects of climate change, which are progressively depleting arable land.
The Song-taaba association of Tandaga, benefiting from 30 hectares of stone bunds, acknowledged a notable improvement in production due to enhanced water retention. In Koupla, a synoptic meteorological station established by PIDACC collects data on climatic parameters, enabling better planning for agricultural activities.
In Gallo, the program supports the installation of biodigesters that produce biogas from animal waste. The area's sole biodigester owner noted enhanced agricultural yields from the organic fertilizer produced, alongside domestic biogas use. However, he highlighted a lack of local maintenance skills, advocating for training local youths to ensure facility upkeep, as several biodigesters in Gallo remain non-functional due to a technician shortage.
The Integrated Programme for Development and Adaptation to Climate Change (PIDACC) spans nine Niger Basin countries, focusing on ecosystem resilience, population resilience, and capacity development to adapt to climate change. In Burkina Faso, the program operates in strategic regions, including Liptako, Soum, Goulmou, Sirba, Tapoa, and Nakamb.