Innovative approach to build a “no regret” framework for reinforcing agricultural water resilience under climate risks and change in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to propose, for the very first time in Burkina Faso, a “no regret” reference tool to improve policies and processes which could strengthen agricultural water resilience under climate risks and change for sustained food security. Such a framework consists of five pillars derived from the agricultural water vulnerability analysis. Design/methodology/approach The method combined a new designed tool “ClimProspect”, adapted to the Sahelian climatic context, participatory and analogue approaches. Findings Innovative “no regret” framework to overcome current and future climate risks on agricultural water requirements has been built. Research limitations/implications The paper proposes a new way to assess vulnerability and build resilience for a given system and brings climate and disaster risks together. In fact, in the country, disaster and climate risks are closely associated. Practical implications The proposed measures will reinforce water security under climate variability and change and disaster risks, boost the farmers’ participation in water governance and secure the adaptation investment for the long term. Social implications Implementing the proposed measures should provide farmers with agricultural water needs at any time over the year, having access to social protection and sustainably increase their food security. Originality/value Method used explicitly allows for paying attention, at the same time, to climate variability and change, disaster risks and social issues. The “no regret” framework is a practical secured tool for policy makers and planners, and it gives them a new way to secure sustainable water requirements.

Resilience in Complex Catchment Systems

“…However, without a robust understanding of how short-term dynamics lead to medium-or longterm effects (e.g., stressors) being realised, it will be difficult to create effective interventions and transformative adaptation. We also found [3] that the medium-term time-scale studies are significantly correlated to the study of ecological, economic, and social impacts [47,48]. Economic and social impacts are currently studied in a primarily top-down fashion (e.g., using census data), which could be a barrier to the unpicking of system dynamics and interactions.…”

“…In our structured review [3], we found that most studies tended to focus on assessing medium-term time-scale impacts (i.e., taking months or years [46][47][48]), without strong connections to the study of short-term time scales (i.e., taking hours, days, or weeks). The full database of studies on climate change adaptation to hydrohazards is available for reference [49].…”

Analysis of stakeholder perceptions and practices related to climate change adaptation in Burkina Faso.

“…Recent decade droughts, floods and heats have severely impacted the country's farmer livelihoods, especially water resources Gahi et al, (2017). These different impacts of climate risks on hydrosystems have had adverse repercussions on livelihoods of communities that depend mainly on agriculture (Barbier and Yacouba, 2009;Zorom et al, 2013;Sossou et al, 2019).…”

“…The survey was conducted using a questionnaire. The survey together with data analysis, were based on the 24 vulnerability factors of the water sector identified by Gahi et al (2017) in Burkina Faso. These vulnerability factors included the three main climatic indicators for agriculture risks (droughts, floods and temperature) considering climatic uncertainties in Burkina Faso.…”

“…In fact, these impacts on water resources imply disruption in agricultural activities, early drying of wells and rivers, loss of soil humidity and fertility, loss of seasonal crop and vegetable productivity. These can result in food insecurity if timely alternative interventions to buffer such disasters are not implemented ( Gahi et al, 2017). These studies also noted that, although there was integrated water resource management and food insecurity plans to face to food crises in Burkina Faso, water insecurity was still experienced by farmers; followed drought or flood events.…”