Ouagadougou:The National Center for Strategic Studies (CNES), in collaboration with the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), is conducting a workshop in Ouagadougou from October 28 to 29, 2026. The event focuses on the nexus of climate, peace, and security in Burkina Faso, aiming to advance the operationalization of the National Climate Security Strategy (SNSC-BF). The workshop seeks to enhance dialogue, institutional coordination, and the capacity of actors involved in implementing the strategy.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Brigadier General Aimé Barthélemy Simporé, Director General of CNES, emphasized that the two-day meeting will review initiatives already undertaken, assess the achievements of the strategy's implementation, and identify persistent constraints. The workshop aims to propose realistic measures to overcome these challenges, focusing on strengthening coordination mechanisms, improving information sharing, developing capacities, and mobilizing resources to translate strategic orientations into tangible results.
General Simporé highlighted the interaction between climate change and pre-existing vulnerabilities, such as competition over natural resources and difficulties in accessing livelihoods, which can exacerbate tensions and weaken social cohesion. He noted that these tensions could be exploited by terrorist groups, while insecurity may hinder environmental protection efforts. The national climate security strategy is designed to address these issues and is expected to extend its reach to the Alliance of Sahel States and the broader Sahel region.
The workshop aims to conclude with a shared understanding of the strategy's implementation status, a better grasp of obstacles to its operationalization, and a set of priority recommendations with concrete action plans. CNES plans to present the workshop's conclusions to the relevant authorities to support strategic decision-making.
Fahiraman Rodrigue Koné, head of the ISS Sahel project, praised the adoption of the national climate security strategy as an important step, putting Burkina Faso in a leadership position to implement and share its experience regionally. He stressed the need for translating guidelines into concrete actions through better institutional coordination and information sharing. The ISS aims to support Burkina Faso's expertise and contribute to building relevant responses with Burkinabe institutions.
The success of the strategy, according to Koné, will depend on the collective ability to take ownership, coordinate interventions, and translate priorities into tangible results for the benefit of Burkina Faso and the entire region.