This study investigated the impact of the design of wall systems, mainly made of compressed earth blocks (CEB), on the indoor thermal comfort of naturally ventilated housing in hot climates of Burkina Faso. Conventional housing was modeled and calibrated using the WUFI^® Plus dynamic simulation tool based on typical field surveys and the literature. This allowed testing the ability of different wall designs to impact thermal comfort. Thermal discomfort was assessed through an adaptive approach and was based on the annual weighted exceedance hours of overheating. Six designs of walls made of CEB and other locally available materials were simulated and compared to those made of classical hollow concrete blocks. The results of the simulation reveal that the profiles of thermal discomfort vary depending on the wall designs and building spaces. Thus, the wall made, from the outside toward the inside surface, of plywood of 2 cm, an insulation layer of 5 cm and a CEB layer of 29 cm thickness is the most suitable for an annual reduction in overheating for the living room. Regarding the bedroom, the most suitable wall is made of a 14 cm CEB layer, 5 cm insulating layer and 2 cm wood layer from the outside toward the inside surface.

In Burkina Faso, the most commonly used road construction material is lateritic soil. However, in its raw state, this soil does not meet the required recommendations. To overcome this problem, previous studies have often focused on improving these soils by adding cement. However, these studies have rarely included a multi-criteria characterisation of the main geomechanical parameters of treated soils. It was also noted that the identification parameters of lateritic soils could have an influence on their improvement with cement. The aim of this study is to highlight the influence of the physical and mineralogical properties of lateritic soils on the effectiveness of improving their geomechanical properties by adding a low content of cement (<3% wt.). The soils were taken from two sites: Saaba (LAS) and Kamboinsé (LAK). The effects of cement addition on the plasticity index, CBR index, Young’s modulus, unconfined compressive strength, tensile strength and shear strength were studied. In their raw state, LAS and LAK have different physical properties and cannot be used as sub-bases. The addition of cement improves the overall physical and mechanical properties of both soils, but to different degrees. Indeed, after adding 3% cement to the raw soils, the CBR index of LAS increases by 1275% compared with 257% for LAK; the unconfined compressive strength of LAS is twice as high as that of LAK, and the Young’s modulus increases by around 460% for LAS compared with 360% for LAK. After improvement, these two soils met all the CEBTP specifications except for tensile strength. The effect of cement was more significant on LAS due to its better physical properties and higher clay mineral content, which would improve pozzolanic reactivity during cement hydration. Knowing the mineralogy of lateritic soils when treating them with cement would allow us to reduce the quantity of cement, thereby mitigating its negative impact on the environment.

Supplemental irrigation based on runoff harvesting is a sustainable solution in the current context of water scarcity that is prevalent in Sahelian countries. Runoff water harvesting ponds (RWHPs) are increasingly being utilized for vegetable cultivation by producers. This study aims to analyze the cropping choices of producers benefiting from RWHPs in the Kadiogo and Bazèga provinces of Burkina Faso in the West African Sahel. A sample of 27 surveyed producers revealed a dominant preference for vegetable crops (93.46% of the total production) over cereals. The cropping choices are influenced by factors such as the crop resistance to dry spells, the water demand, the economic return, and the market demand. For the effective utilization of the basins, crop choices should consider the water retention capacity of the basin. Additionally, to enhance the retention capacity, it is advisable to line them using appropriate waterproofing techniques. Similarly, the selection of basin installation sites should consider the soil characteristics and site-specific considerations. The findings of this research highlight the potential of runoff water harvesting basins to significantly improve agricultural productivity and resilience in the West African Sahel, thereby contributing to enhanced food security and improved livelihoods for local farmers.

In West Africa, the construction of small earth dams is common against water scarcity. Burkina Faso, an inland country in West Africa, is home to 1001 dams that serve agricultural and pastoral needs. These embankments are predominantly made of compacted laterite, a cost-effective material abundant in over 2/3 of the country. However, these dams degrade over time, hindering their functionality. This study aims to establish a catalog of typical degradation occurring on small dams in Burkina Faso, which is virtually non-existent in the region while identifying and analyzing the potential causes. The study uses a diagnostic analysis followed up with technical visits on a representative sample of 24 dams in the Centre and Centre-South regions as a basis for future studies. The results reveal that these dams were constructed between 1965 and 2018, with capacities ranging from 150,000 to 4,740,000 m³. 33% of these dams have undergone total failure, likely attributed to factors such as internal erosion, pore overpressures, settlement, and deformation. Although 67% of the dams remain functional, their structural integrity could be improved. Erosion observed in riprap indicates vulnerability during high flood periods. Additionally, the absence of proper maintenance, as shown by the vegetation development weakening embankments, contributes to deterioration. The analysis also suggests that variability in construction techniques and lateritic material properties across time and regions may further exacerbate degradation. These findings inform infrastructure improvements and policy development for sustainable water resource management in Burkina Faso and similar regions.

Irrigation plays a critical role in agricultural intensification and productivity enhancement, especially in rainfall-scarce environments. Solar pumps have emerged as promising solutions for controlling energy consumption. This study examines the factors influencing the adoption of solar-powered irrigation pumps among horticultural farmers in the Kadiogo Province, located in the Centre Region in Burkina Faso, a landlocked Sahelian country within West Africa. Within the framework of a solar pump subsidy program, a random sample of 200 farmers, including 42% of adopters and 58% of non-adopters of solar pumps for irrigation. A logit model revealed that factors such as gender, membership in rural organizations, farm size, agricultural income and perceived ease of manutention significantly affect the likelihood of adopting solar pumps. Additionally, level of education and purchase cost also influence adoption probabilities. These findings suggest that targeted interventions, focusing on enhanced educational outreach, subsidization of purchase costs and support of rural organizations could trigger widespread adoption of solar-powered pumps in smallholder communities, thereby improving agricultural productivity and resilience in small-scale farming communities.

In Burkina Faso, increasing access to electricity requires the optimized management of energy consumption in buildings and the implementation of regional and national regulations. These regulations have been implemented to promote energy efficiency in the building sector. However, they do not yet seem to have produced the expected results. Conducting a study could help identify the shortcomings related to energy efficiency and guide future research toward sustainable solutions. To date, no such study has been carried out. Therefore, this research aims to analyze the causes of these shortcomings, understand the gaps in the literature, and identify prospects for implementing energy efficiency policy in buildings in Burkina Faso. The methodology consisted of systematically analyzing the scientific literature on current regulations and previous scientific studies on energy efficiency in Burkina Faso. A SWOT analysis of energy efficiency programs in buildings in Burkina Faso was then carried out, and recommendations were proposed. The results show that the obstacles to the emergence of a genuine energy efficiency program in buildings are the inadequacies of the texts and regulations in force, the lack of standards, and the focus of scientific studies on building materials to the detriment of residents’ consumption habits. This study, therefore, sets out guidelines for future research and policies, while providing recommendations for improving the energy efficiency of buildings in Burkina Faso.