June 2025 Small change, big change: How Burkina Faso’s sanitation workers turned a small grant into lasting change. Alidou Bande and Sterenn Philippe

(voir la version française ici)

ABASE, founded in 2012, is dedicated to improving the working conditions, safety, and professional recognition of manual emptiers across the country.  Since its inception, ABASE has played a pivotal role in professionalizing manual pit emptying services.

From 2022 to 2025, our association received flexible funding from the Initiative for Sanitation Workers (ISW) to strengthen our advocacy and empowerment efforts. The grant of USD 40,000  was grantee-driven, giving us the autonomy to determine how best to use the resources to respond to the needs and priorities of our members. Today, I would like to share how this grant enabled us to accelerate our efforts to address key challenges over the past couple of years. I will also outline our goals for the year ahead and suggests ways that stakeholders can support our work to improve sanitation in Burkina Faso, and beyond.

Manual emptiers in Burkina Faso have been facing several major difficulties, including:

1. Lack of recognition of the profession: Manual emptying is rarely seen as legitimate work and is often stigmatized as degrading labour, typically assigned to marginalized communities. In 2019, authorities even declared it illegal, based on the perception that it's unsanitary and associated with dangerous dumping of faecal sludge. This lack of recognition—both socially and legally—means emptiers are often excluded from basic protections like social security, financial services, and health and safety support, leaving them highly vulnerable.
   
   
2. Health and safety issues: Most manual emptiers work without personal protective equipment (PPE) and lack access to essential vaccinations, leaving them highly vulnerable to serious health hazards. They are exposed to untreated sludge, toxic fumes, and hazardous materials such as broken glass, syringes, and sharp objects. Even among those who do use PPE, the equipment is often of poor quality—offering little protection and sometimes posing additional risks.
   
   
3. Absence of Fecal Sludge Treatment Plants: There are no treatment facilities or transfer stations for manual emptiers, leading to the uncontrolled dumping of faecal sludge into fields, drainage systems, and public spaces. This situation results in conflicts with residents and the police, while posing serious environmental and public health risks.

(All activities, except for numbers 2 and 3, were funded by ISW.)

1. Advocating for professional recognition: We engaged in discussions with key ministries and institutions, resulting in the adoption of a decree on August 17, 2023, which officially recognized manual emptying as a profession.
   
   
2. Developing authorization applications: We participated in workshops to develop application documents for manual emptying permits. Once finalized, ABASE will support emptiers to submit their applications to the relevant authorities. These permits will legalize their work, let municipalities track emptying service providers more effectively, and foster a stronger, more collaborative relationship between the two actors.
   
   
3. Feasibility study for transfer stations: We participated in a feasibility study with ONEA, Ouagadougou municipality and partners, reaching a consensus on the establishment of three transfer stations in Ouagadougou, which manual emptiers are eager to use.
   
   
4. Mapping manual emptiers: We identified 120 emptiers in Ouagadougou, 55 in Bobo-Dioulasso, and 40 in Koudougou, contributing to increased membership in the association and a better understanding of their needs.
   
   
5. Developing a best practices manual: In collaboration with the Association des Vidangeurs du Faso (AVIF), we created a document that serves as a foundation for training and awareness campaigns.
   
   
6. Awareness trip to Côte d'Ivoire: I met with emptiers in Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, and Bouaké, contributing to the official recognition of associations in Yamoussoukro and Bouaké so far.
   
   
7. Capacity building of emptiers: We trained 131 emptiers on the risks associated with the profession and the importance of formalizing into Economic Interest Groups. Following the training, most emptiers organized themselves into groups of 2 to 3 members (the typical team size required for manual emptying services).
   
   
8. Participation in radio and TV programs: I shared my experience as a manual emptier on four programs on Savane FM, Omega FM, Omega TV, and Green TV, reaching a broad audience both in Burkina Faso and internationally.

1. Formal vocational training program: This year, our focus is to build on the momentum created by the ISW grant, especially our advocacy for the recognition of manual emptiers. While securing legal recognition of the profession was a major milestone, we are now advancing toward the creation of a formal me, in partnership with CEMEAU and WaterAid Burkina Faso, the training arm of ONEA (the national utility responsible for water and sanitation services in Burkina Faso). This certificate would mark a major step toward professionalising the sector and empowering our members.
   
   
2. Business plan: The conclusion of ISW’s financial support has underscored the need for ABASE to diversify its funding sources to ensure long-term sustainability. In response, we are developing a five-year business plan focused on strengthening financial autonomy and identifying diverse funding opportunities. This plan represents a key milestone toward building a more resilient organization and achieving a greater impact in improving the working conditions of manual emptiers in Burkina Faso.

1. Financial support: The association seeks sustainable funding from donors, investors, and government to build on the momentum sparked by ISW and continue its vital work in advocacy, formalization, business development, health and safety, and professional training—ultimately ensuring its long-term sustainability.
   
   
2. Acquisition of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): ABASE would like to collaborate with stakeholders, including WASH organizations, to help facilitate the procurement of appropriate and high-quality PPE.
   
   
3. Awareness campaigns: The association needs support to create awareness of manual emptying amongst households to increase their visibility and dignity. Government support in educating households would be particularly powerful.
   
   
4. Research and innovation: ABASE seeks partnerships with universities to develop modern equipment tailored to the needs of manual emptiers.