Feasibility Study for a National Domestic Biogas Programme in - SNV

Feasibility Study for a National Domestic Biogas Programme Burkina Faso
governed by the same rules. The first local government elections took place on 23 rd
April 2006.
Before Decentralisation After Decentralisation
National Administration
Regional Administration
Provincial Administration
Municipality
Arrondissement
Département
Village
Figure 2: Administrative structure before and after decentralisation
While both mayors and parliamentarians are elected locally by the population for a
period of 5 years (last legislative elections on May 6 th 2007), representatives of the
central government at regional and provincial level – Regional Governor, Provincial
High Commissioner, and Departmental Prefect - are nominated by the government.
The decentralisation process envisages a “fast-track process” for the transfer of a
number of core responsibilities to local governments. These responsibilities include
sanitation, hygiene promotion and water supply. The overall transfer process from
line ministries to local governments has already begun. However some difficulties
have been experienced to loosen the central control over financial resources.
Another bottleneck seems to be the transfer of human resources and competencies.
Traditional power also remains very important: for example, in the South West
Region, the “Chef de Terre” (“Chief of the Earth”) and the village community
constitute the ultimate local power and decision maker.
1.2.3 Economy
The country’s economy depends on subsistence agriculture representing 39.5% of
GDP 19 , cotton production, and regional trade 20 . At the national level, more than 90%
19 Gross Domestic Product
20 http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/burkina_faso/burkina_faso_economy.html
20
National Administration
Regional Collectivés Territoriales
Province
Commune rural/urban
Arrondissement
Village