Notes to broadcasters
In Burkina Faso, siltation is among the main factors contributing to the degradation of hydraulic infrastructures : 41% of the country’s 1,035 dams are severely degraded, primarily due to siltation, which destroys the vegetation cover in the catchment areas of these hydraulic structures. Some dam construction projects have not integrated the protection of these infrastructures nor have they sufficiently involved the beneficiary communities. As a result, no measures have been taken to prevent and combat the degradation factors associated with agricultural practices on the banks and upstream of the watershed. The vegetation cover in these areas is destroyed and the soil is scraped. This makes it easier for rainwater to run off into dam basins and transport solids.
This is what happened at the Konioudou dam, in a village in the Kombissiri commune, about forty kilometers from Ouagadougou, the political capital of Burkina Faso. With a capacity of 900,000 cubic meters, this dam, built in 1986, would have sunk due to silting had it not been for the vigilance of the local population. In fact, when the community of Konioudou saw its dam capacity diminishing, they mobilized to take charge of protecting their reservoir, which is their main source of development. The population derives its income from market gardening. They improve their nutrition thanks to the vegetables they produce in large quantities.
This radio script is dedicated to this exceptional community mobilization to protect water resources, in a context where communities generally wait for help from the state or development partners. It gives the floor to three key actors. This text is not a verbatim recording of the interviewees’ words. To ensure that we cover the most important information on the topic of the radio script and that all readers understand the messages, we have slightly modified the text.
To produce a similar program on community mobilization around water, you could use this text as inspiration. If you decide to present it as part of your regular program, you can choose voice actors or hosts to represent the interviewees. In this case, please inform your audience at the beginning of the program that the voices are those of actors, and not those of the actual interviewees.
If you want to develop community mobilization programs around water, talk to a dam operator, a community leader and an expert. For example, you might ask your interviewees the following questions :
- Why are you so committed to saving your dam?
- What causes the dam to deteriorate?
- What solutions have you found to stop this deterioration?
- What is the impact of your conservation efforts on the dam?
- What income does the dam provide?
Length of program, including intro and extro: 25 to 30 minutes.
Script
Signature tune rises, then fades out
HOST :
Welcome, listeners, and thank you for tuning in. Today’s program will focus on mobilizing the local population to take responsibility for the management of their water systems. We’re going to talk about the specific case of the village of Konioudou, located about forty (40) kilometers from Ouagadougou, the political capital of Burkina Faso.
The mobilization of the community to carry out dam repair and protection work is an example to follow, and one we’re going to talk about it in our program. To do so, we’ll give the floor to three key players. First, the president of the Konioudou dam water users’ committee. Gabriel Nikiema is a community leader who is committed to the cause of the dam in his village. He will talk about the situation of the dam, the mobilization of the Konioudou community around the dam, and most importantly, how the dam will contribute to the development of his community. Next, Pauline Ouédraogo, a farmer, will talk about women’s participation in the repair and protection of the dam, and the benefits that women derive from this water resource. Finally, Ousmane Zoundi, a specialist in water resource management and senior agricultural technician, will talk about the technical data related to water resources in the area where the village of Konioudou is located, and the importance of water for the development of a village like Konioudou.
Hello everyone, and thank you for accepting our invitation!
SIGNATURE TUNE RISES, THEN FADES OUT
HOST :
Without further ado, let’s talk to Gabriel Nikiema. You are the president of the Konioudou dam water users’ committee. Why this strong mobilization around the dam?
GABRIEL NIKIEMA :
The facts are clear : water resources are becoming increasingly scarce, and we don’t have enough to produce. We are mobilizing to preserve and protect what little we have.
We use megaphones to spread information when we want to come together. We’re no strangers to new technology. We also use voice messages on WhatsApp, in addition to the word-of-mouth technique. Everyone knows about the three-week schedule of the dam rehabilitation work. We can mobilize about a hundred (100) people for each work session. Otherwise, we risk losing everything, and we can’t imagine our lives here in Konioudou without this dam.
HOST :
Why is the dam drying up?
GABRIEL NIKIEMA :
The dam isn’t big enough. It has a capacity of nine hundred thousand cubic meters (900,000 m
3) and it is used by many of us. The village has over eight thousand (8,000) inhabitants and everyone depends on the dam for water. The dam is not high enough to retain and store a large amount of water.
The reservoir is also silted up and the dike is damaged. This means that we can’t store much water in the winter season. As a result, we have to stop watering our plants earlier. The little water that is often left is reserved for the animals. It’s an old dam with over 30 years of existence.
HOST :
What specific measures are you taking to protect your dam?
GABRIEL NIKIEMA :
We’re working to strengthen the dike. We collect soil and pebbles to fill in the gaps so that the dike is stronger and can withstand heavy rains. We are working to reduce siltation by planting trees upstream and also with structures such as stone barriers, filter dikes and grass strips. But we’re also focusing on changing people’s behavior. As long as we persist with bad practices, we’re putting our dam at risk. In essence, we’re raising awareness of good practices to protect water resources.
HOST :
How do you organize the work to protect your dam?
GABRIEL NIKIEMA :
We are organized around the water users’ committee. The committee’s role is to ensure the routine maintenance and protection of the dam, and it works with the entire population. As a committee, we initiate, coordinate and carry out dam protection activities in conjunction with the agricultural technical services. We are raising awareness upstream and mobilizing the population for the cause of the dam.
HOST :
What are you doing to prevent your dam from silting up?
GABRIEL NIKIEMA :
The agricultural technicians assigned to provide support services to producers have taught us how to limit soil erosion and sediment transportation into the dam. The first step is to demarcate the dam’s easement strip and prohibit agricultural practices within that zone. People are farming there because they don’t understand the impact this could have on the dam, as this was not explained when the dam was built. But we’re going to work to make up for it, in the interest of our project.
HOST :
These are protective measures. But in concrete terms, what are you going to do to prevent the water from carrying the sand into the dam?
GABRIEL NIKIEMA :
We’re going to plant trees: thorn trees all around the dam and fruit trees in the easement strip. These fruit trees will help stabilize the soil around the dam because the soil will no longer be disturbed by agricultural practices. These fruit trees will provide income for farmers whose agricultural practices were prohibited in the fields. We also learned how to slow down the flow of water upstream using structures such as stone barriers and herbaceous strips. We went out into the field to see where and how to build these barriers. To reinforce the stone barriers, we plan to plant grasses in rows perpendicular to the slope.
HOST :
Who is helping you to carry out these activities?
GABRIEL NIKIEMA :
Nobody supports us in these activities. We have a fund to which we contribute. Each user of the dam’s water contributes two thousand Cfa francs (2,000 FCFA, $3.40 US) per month for small-scale farmers and five thousand (5,000 FCFA, $8.45 US) for large-scale farmers. With these contributions that we buy equipment to work on protecting the dam. We buy fuel to run our motorcycle cabs, which we use to collect soil and large rocks, and we also buy food to eat while we work.
HOST :
Do you see the impact of your work on the dam?
GABRIEL NIKIEMA :
Yes, the impact is clearly visible. This year, we had two more months of water than last year. This is very important for us because it means two more months of production.
Production has increased significantly. It has doubled. What’s interesting is that having two months more than in previous years has allowed us to retain the young people who used to go to the gold-panning sites or to the cities.
HOST :
Do you make use of the dam yourself?
GABRIEL NIKIEMA :
Yes, I make good use of the dam. This year, I produced cabbage and onions. It was good this year. I got at least five hundred thousand Cfa francs (500,000 FCFA, $845 US) from the sale of my onions and cabbage. I made a lot of money and this year’s production has mobilized the whole village around the cause of the dam. It’s definitely better than last year, when I didn’t harvest even half of what I did this year.
HOST :
Has the dam changed your life in Konioudou?
GABRIEL NIKIEMA :
The dam has made a big difference to our lives here in Konioudou. Our houses are now made of permanent materials instead of mud brickand everyone has bought a motorcycle. The impact of the dam on our lives is clearly perceptible. If we could have water all the time, we’d all be rich in this village.
HOST :
Apart from growing vegetables, what other uses do you make of your dam?
GABRIEL NIKIEMA :
We use it for water for our animals and for domestic tasks like building houses. Life flourishes around the dam. You’ll find many species of birds and reptiles. The soil is moist and the weather is good.
HOST :
Thank you, Mr. Nikiéma, for all this information and good luck to you in your commitment to protect the Konioudou dam for the well-being of the people of this village.
Signature tune rises, then fades out
HOST :
We now have Pauline Ouédraogo, a member of the Konioudou dam water users’ committee, on the phone. Hello Mrs., and welcome to our program. What have you produced this year?
PAULINE OUEDRAOGO :
This year, I planted onions, cabbage and five varieties of edible leafy plants on an area of about five hundred square meters (500 m
2 ). There is not enough land. So the men don’t give us enough. The water soon ran out and we abandoned our plots. In the past, when there was a lot of water, after harvesting the onions, we would plant edible leafy plants and that gave us much more production and income.
HOST :
How much did you earn from this year’s production?
PAULINE OUEDRAOGO :
(LAUGHS) It’s true that we don’t like to talk too much about what we earn, because if the men know about it, they take it away. (LAUGHS) But I can tell you about it, except that I haven’t sold the onions yet, but I have harvested three fifty (50) kilo bags, and each bag can be sold for thirty thousand Cfa francs (30,000 FCFA, $50.75 US). From the sale of cabbage and leaves, I can estimate my earnings at fifty thousand Cfa francs (50, 000 FCFA, $84.50 US). Thus, this year my income can be estimated at one hundred and forty thousand Cfa francs (140,000 FCFA, $235 US). With this income, I cover my small needs and contribute to the family expenses, especially the children’s education.
HOST :
Ah yes! Good production despite the water shortage, which is the main factor of production. What’s wrong with this dam, Mrs. Ouédraogo?
PAULINE OUEDRAOGO :
From March onwards, the water goes into the dam, often before our crops are ripe. The dam doesn’t hold back as much water as it used to and the demand is increasing.
It’s true that the dam is silting up, but the dike is no good either. It collapses during heavy rains. We’ll fix on one side this year, and next year it’ll break on the other. It’s an old dam.
HOST :
Are women involved in repairing and protecting the dam?
PAULINE OUEDRAOGO :
Yes, of course we take part in the work. We prepare food and coffee for the men, but we also collect stones and earth to repair the dam. We’re there with the men to protect our dam that we depend on which so much. We grow vegetables and leaves for our sauces and earn income to meet our family needs. This dam is very important to us women.
HOST :
What needs to be done to really protect the dam so that it provides the water needed for production?
PAULINE OUEDRAOGO :
We’ll need helpbig machines to collect the earth and stones to stabilize the dam. We’re suffering a lot with our wheelbarrows and carts. Left to our own devices, it’s going to be difficult to rehabilitate the dike.
MODERATOR :
Thank you Mrs. Pauline Ouédraogo for agreeing to share your views on the Konioudou dam. I’m looking forward to helping you increase production in order to increase the income of women and men farmers of Konioudou.
Signature tune rises, then fades out
HOST :
Now, to conclude this program, we’re going to turn to Mr. Ousmane Zoundi, who is with us in the studio. Hello Mr. Zoundi, and thank you for accepting our invitation to talk about the Koniougou dam, which you know very well. You’re a senior agricultural technician living in the Koniougou community. Could you tell us about the Konioudou dam?
OUSMANE ZOUNDI :
The Konioudou dam in the Kombissiri commune near Ouagadougou was built in 1986 with a capacity of nine hundred thousand cubic meters (900,000 m
3). The dam of this hydraulic structure has deteriorated and is in danger of collapsing every rainy season. The people of Konioudou, through the water users committee, have mobilized actively to carry out maintenance work on this structure. The community has also raised funds to maintain and repair the dam. Following this exemplary mobilization by the community itself, the Nakambé Water Authority is also supporting work to reinforce the dam’s embankment.
HOST :
In the context of sustainable water resource management, what are users of dams required to do?
OUSMANE ZOUNDI :
They are required to comply with the rules established for water management and brought to their attention by the members of the water users’ committee. These include respecting the periods and zones of operation, and complying with the measures concerning the use of pesticides.
HOST :
In what ways can the community of Konioudou be considered as a good example of community mobilization for the preservation of water resources?
OUSMANE ZOUNDI :
The community of Konioudou is a good example of physical mobilization to carry out maintenance and repair work, as well as financial mobilization. Rarely has a community been so committed to community work. People are still waiting for the State or partners to intervene, but Konioudou has taken the lead and is awaiting support. But this community must persevere, because bad practices still exist, such as the occupation of the agricultural easement strip, which is silting up the dam. Removing the farmers from this easement strip is a major challenge.
HOST :
How can we maintain the momentum created by the Konioudou community?
OUSMANE ZOUNDI :
We mustn’t let our guard down. We must continue to raise awareness and, above all, train the members of the user committee who act as relays. We need to make them more effective. To duplicate this fine example of commitment and mobilization, the Konioudou community needs to share its experience with other communities through study tours and capacity building. Above all, we need to organize radio programs to disseminate best practices and talk about the exemplary commitment of the Konioudou community. We need to rely heavily on radio because it’s an effective communication tool that is accessible to everyone.
HOST :
Mr. Zoundi, how important is water to a community like Konioudou, over and above its usual uses?
OUSMANE ZOUNDI :
Beyond domestic use, water is the most important factor for rural development. If you take the example of the community of Konioudou, they only have four months of the rainy season to produce, and the rest of the year they are almost idle. If they have water to produce in the dry season up to the next rainy season, it will be a great help to them. Dry season production provides income and food for the community, and that’s very important.
HOST :
Is this resource available to the community?
OUSMANE ZOUNDI :
This resource is sorely lacking. Konioudou’s south-central region is crossed by two rivers, the Nazinon and the Nakambé. It has low-capacity ponds and dams that dry up quickly because they are silted up by agricultural practices in the surrounding area. Groundwater resources are less abundant because the region is situated on a bedrock.
MODERATOR :
What are the challenges facing the water sector in this region?
OUSMANE ZOUNDI :
The big challenge is really to protect this resource from pollution and sedimentation. To this end, we have set up local water committees at the sub-basin level to ensure the protection and proper use of water. In addition to the water committees, there are water users’ committees at the dam level, which also ensure the protection and proper use of water at a particular point. With the support of our technicians, these committees raise awareness of bad practices and promote good practices for the sustainable use of water resources. The water police also support these committees in raising awareness and also crack down on bad practices.
HOST :
Thank you Mr. Zoundi and all our guests. This brings us to the end of our program. Today we talked about community mobilization for water resource management, with the case of the Konioudou community. We spoke with Gabriel Nikiéma and Pauline Ouédraogo from the Konioudou community and Ousmane Zoundi, agricultural technician. You saw how this community is committed to protecting its dam, whose future is threatened by siltation. Through repair and prevention activities, this community is giving a second life to its dam, which is a source of happiness in a region where water resources are scarce in the face of ever-increasing consumption. The mobilization of the community in Konioudou is a good example to follow, as stated by the agricultural technician.
Thank you for listening and till next time.
Acknowledgements
Contributed by : Harouna Sana, journalist communicator.
Reviewed by : Jean-Baptiste Zongo, expert in integrated water resources management
Information sources :
Interviews :
Gabriel Nikiéma, Community leader and Chairman of the Konioudou Dam Water Users’ Committee. Interview conducted on May 12, 2024.
Pauline Ouédraogo, Dam operator. Interview conducted on May 17, 2024.
Ousmane Zoundi, agricultural technician. Interviews conducted on May 11 and 13, 2024.
Resources visited :
Publications Ministry of Water Resources, interviews
This resource was produced with a grant from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and IDRC of Canada. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, nor those of IDRC or its Board of Governors.
