Burkina Faso

Organisacion pour Renforcer les Capacites Development (ORCADE)
ORCADE has been working with trade unions in the water company and other citizen’s organizations to monitor the water privatization process. A recent World Bank structural adjustment loan, approved by the Burkina Faso parliament in July 2001, contained conditions related to the privatization of 13 state-owned companies, including the Ouagadougou water company. Trade unions in the water company and the other 12 state-owned companies slated for privatization, recognizing that downsizing would be the next step, went on a 72 hour warning strike in the summer of 2001. Currently there is very little public information about the proposed water privatization process. ORCADE is advocating for greater government transparency regarding the privatization process and will work closely with the trade unions to develop alternative water management proposals.