OSHUN strengthens its action to promote access to water in Senegal and Burkina Faso

More than 2 billion people worldwide do not have access to safely managed drinking water(*). In sub-Saharan Africa, 40% of the population does not have access to water, mainly in rural areas and 135 million people, mainly women and girls, travel more than 30 minutes per day to access drinking water.

It is in this context that society OSHUN, created at the end of 2017 and a partner of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation since 2018, is deploying an innovative solution for accessing water in rural areas. Based on a business model based on local entrepreneurship, OSHUN provides a high-quality, affordable water service through solar-powered water kiosks. These kiosks are managed by local entrepreneurs working as franchisees and incorporate a digital component that optimizes their efficient management. The service, which is expected to expand more widely in West Africa, has started in rural and peri-urban areas of Senegal and Burkina Faso.

Today, in addition to the kiosks, OSHUN is also working to install water treatment systems in schools and health centers funded by public, private, and solidarity partners. Thus, in collaboration with the NGO Marseille Provence Afrique Coopération, OSHUN has installed 120 water treatment systems in schools and health centers in Senegal since 2018. To date, this project has benefited approximately 40,000 beneficiaries with access to free drinking water. In addition to installing and maintaining the equipment, OSHUN, in conjunction with community relays, implements awareness-raising activities to help change behavior. In the same vein, the German International Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ) has just commissioned OSHUN to undertake a turnkey project to install 30 devices in health centers located in areas without electricity in Senegal.

In Burkina Faso, OSHUN is strengthening its action alongside the Société du Canal de Provence (SCP) as project managers in the rehabilitation of water pumps and the installation of water kiosks in 27 villages in the commune of Bobo Dioulasso (2^e city in the country). This will allow people to have access to raw water for domestic use and treated water for consumption in the same place. This project, which will be completed in April 2021, will reach nearly 70,000 beneficiaries.

More information about OSHUN here.

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(*) United Nations