Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Burkina Faso

This report provides an overview of current and planned efforts to advance adaptation to climate change in the landlocked West African country of Burkina Faso, for which climate change presents a significant challenge.

Among the least developed countries in the world, many Burkinabe continue to live in multidimensional poverty, have limited access to social services, and depend on climate-sensitive livelihood activities—particularly agriculture and livestock raising. The country historically has been affected by prolonged dry conditions and flooding due to heavy rainfall, and faces growing environmental concerns such as deforestation, land degradation and water scarcity. These circumstances leave the country vulnerable to climate change, as has been acknowledged by the Government of Burkina Faso in its national development strategy. The government has responded by engaging in adaptation planning, prioritizing actions related to water, agriculture, livestock and forestry. It has also begun to mainstream climate change considerations into the policies and plans of its most vulnerable sectors. The international community is supporting adaptation efforts in Burkina Faso, funding projects that primarily address needs related to its priority sectors and targeting populations in the country’s vulnerable northern areas. Significant additional capacity building within government, including local governments, and support for vulnerable populations is needed for Burkina Faso to maintain and advance the development gains it has achieved in recent years. These and other issues are explored in this paper, which is one in a series of country reviews prepared by IISD to provide the Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA) with a snapshot of adaptation action in its countries of engagement.