Investing in Tenkodogo: together for universal access to safe water and sanitation

Published on: 09/01/2025

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Equitable access to safe water and sanitation remains one of the major development challenges in many sub-Saharan African communities, and Tenkodogo, in Burkina Faso’s Centre-East region, is no exception. While progress has been made in recent years, the situation remains concerning, with significant gaps in service coverage, quality, and sustainable management.

By 2030, Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) calls for universal and equitable access to safe water and sanitation for all. But where does Tenkodogo currently stand? What strategies need to be reinforced to bridge the gaps? 

A concerning assessment: inequalities and health risks persist

The 2022 data from Tenkodogo reveals a structural imbalance in access to water and sanitation:

• Only 10.26% of the population has access to safely managed drinking water.
• 36.4% of residents still practise open defecation, posing a serious public health risk.
• Existing infrastructure (boreholes and handpumps) is aging and often poorly maintained.

Rural areas face even greater challenges. Many villages still rely on unprotected water points, while urban areas have seen a rise in unregulated private boreholes, exposing communities to potential contamination.

Beyond public health concerns, the absence of proper sanitation services results in direct environmental consequences, including groundwater pollution, inadequate sludge management, and a lack of wastewater treatment facilities. 

A growing challenge: the proliferation of unregulated private boreholes

One of the major issues identified in Tenkodogo’s access to safe water is the increasing presence of unregulated private boreholes, especially in urban areas. As the public network struggles to meet growing demand, many private operators have created autonomous water points, often without oversight or rigorous quality control from local authorities.

This situation raises several concerns:

• Uncertain water quality: The lack of regulation around water sources and treatment exposes populations to health risks, as potability tests are not carried out consistently.
• Impact on public service management: These private initiatives often bypass municipal planning, creating resource management imbalances and undermining the national utility ONEA’s regulatory efforts.
• Lack of fiscal control: Revenue generated by these boreholes frequently bypasses taxation, depriving the municipality of crucial resources for public service improvements.

To reverse this trend, it is essential to establish a stricter local regulatory framework, including borehole certification, regular quality checks, and the integration of these infrastructures into municipal planning efforts. However, these issues are only a reflection of deeper structural challenges that hinder Tenkodogo’s progress towards universal and sustainable access to water and sanitation.

Structural challenges to overcome

Several structural barriers currently hinder progress towards achieving the SDGs in Tenkodogo:

• Insufficient sustainable financing: Water supply currently absorbs more than 80% of the limited investments, leaving sanitation significantly underfunded. This imbalance directly contributes to the persistence of open defecation and its related health risks.
• Fragmentation of responsibilities: The local governance structure remains limited, with poor coordination between technical services, the municipality, and local operators.
• Lack of long-term planning: Planning efforts often focus primarily on water infrastructure, while urgent needs in sludge management and wastewater treatment remain under-prioritised.

Cultural barriers also persist, including traditional practices and limited awareness of the health risks associated with open defecation and inadequate sanitation facilities.

Strategic pathways for universal and sustainable access

To address these challenges, improving sustainable access to safe water and sanitation in Tenkodogo requires a systemic approach based on three key pillars:

1. Strengthening local governance and accountability

• Clarify roles and responsibilities among the municipality, water user associations, private operators, and community sanitation actors.
• Establish a dual monitoring framework to evaluate progress in both water and sanitation services.
• Ensure regular public reporting on service performance and financial transparency.

2. Investing in adequate and sustainable infrastructure

• Prioritise the rehabilitation of aging boreholes and modernise deteriorating facilities.
• Expand sanitation infrastructure, focusing on secure latrines and sludge treatment stations.
• Promote ecological sanitation solutions such as composting latrines and decentralised wastewater treatment units.

3. Diversifying financing and optimising resources

• Redirect a greater share of financial resources towards community sanitation initiatives and awareness campaigns.
• Encourage public-private partnerships for the co-financing of both water and sanitation projects.
• Mobilize innovative funding sources, such as environmental taxes and community contributions, ensuring a balanced allocation between water and sanitation needs.

Tenkodogo: an area ready for ambitious partnerships

Tenkodogo has demonstrated a strong and structured commitment to improving access to water and sanitation for its entire population. However, achieving the SDGs by 2030 will only be possible through balanced investments and increased attention to basic sanitation infrastructure.

The commune already benefits from political commitment and a clear strategic vision, as reflected in the development of the Communal Strategic Plan for Public Water Supply and Sanitation Services (PSC-AEPA). Yet, reaching universal access will require financial, technical, and human resources beyond the current local capacity.

This is where external partnerships become essential: Tenkodogo offers a conducive environment for targeted and high-impact investments. By supporting this effort, technical, financial, and institutional partners will have the opportunity to:

• Invest in concrete projects: Rehabilitate 100% of deteriorating boreholes, expand the drinking water network to cover 90% of the population, and build modern sanitation facilities targeting a 50% reduction in open defecation by 2030.
• Contribute to social impact initiatives: Reduce waterborne diseases with a target of 40% reduction in cases of diarrhoeal diseases linked to unsafe water.
• Benefit from a structured collaboration: With continued technical assistance from IRC, the municipality has developed a robust monitoring framework, ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of funds.

Tenkodogo is ready to co-create sustainable solutions with partners committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Joining this effort means contributing to an inclusive and lasting development model with measurable impact on thousands of lives.

Together, let’s make universal access to water and sanitation a lasting reality for Tenkodogo.

For more information on collaboration opportunities and support, the Communal Strategic Plan for Public Water Supply and Sanitation Services is available on the IRC website.