As part of IWA’s mission to empower Young Water Professionals to contribute to sustainable water management, a new IWA Young Water Professionals (IWA YWP) chapter was officially established in Burkina Faso in April 2025. This IWA YWP chapter will be the country’s go-to network, boosting connections for YWPs and a platform to support equal opportunities and quality career development. As a voluntary network, the IWA YWPs Burkina Faso chapter is open to all water professionals aged 35 or below, who are enthusiastic, dedicated, and passionate about water-related issues. Here, August Abdon Kinglo, Chair of YWP Burkina Faso, presents some key points about the chapter.
Q: What was the motivation for setting up an IWA YWP Chapter in Burkina Faso?
The establishment of the IWA Young Water Professionals (YWP) Chapter in Burkina Faso stems from the collective ambition of the country’s young water professionals to unify and coordinate existing youth-led initiatives in the water sector. This joint effort seeks to maximise impact on the ground through a collaborative approach.
The Chapter aims to strengthen the capacities of young professionals across interdisciplinary domains. By encouraging innovation and promoting holistic strategies, it seeks to better equip young water professionals to address both current and emerging water challenges in Burkina Faso.
One of the core objectives of the Chapter is to highlight context-specific water issues, particularly those affecting the Sahelian region. It seeks to raise awareness of the crucial role that both urban and rural water resilience play in maintaining peace and security. The Chapter therefore, acknowledges the strategic importance of water governance in promoting stability and development.
Furthermore, this initiative aspires to contribute meaningfully to international discussions on shared water challenges, serving as a link between local realities and the broader global water community. By giving greater visibility to the voices of young Francophone water professionals, it addresses a longstanding underrepresentation of professionals from Francophone Africa in international water platforms. The IWA YWP Chapter in Burkina Faso thus aims to serve not only as a national space for knowledge exchange and professional growth but also as a modest platform for sharing local perspectives on a global stage.
Ultimately, this Chapter represents a step towards more inclusive, resilient, and globally connected water stewardship in West Africa.
Q: How will the chapter contribute to the empowerment of YWPs to contribute to the national water agenda of Burkina Faso?
The IWA YWP Burkina Faso Chapter is positioned to empower Young Water Professionals (YWPs) through a five-pillar framework, directly aligned with Burkina Faso’s national water agenda and broader development goals:
- Capacity Building: By delivering a series of webinars on water governance, sanitation, climate-resilient management, and the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus. Special emphasis will be placed on groundwater governance, in line with the specific water context of Burkina Faso.
- Policy Engagement and Advocacy: By equipping YWPs with policy literacy and advocacy tools, enabling informed engagement with national stakeholders.
- Participation in Global Events: Through engagement in international platforms such as the IWA Congresses and others such as COP, YWPs will contribute to global water policy dialogues and bring back innovations for local implementation.
- Strategic Alignment and Institutional Integration: By forging partnerships with academia (e.g., 2iE), government agencies, and civil society, the Chapter ensures continuity, relevance, and impact. A self-financing model sustains operations through grants, member contributions, and partnerships.
- Engagement with National Frameworks: By actively participating in national initiatives such as the National Drinking Water Supply Plan and the Integrated Water Resources Management Plan. The Chapter supports SDGs 6, 5, 3, and 10 through community engagement, awareness campaigns, and youth-led initiatives.
Q: What are your aims and objectives for your chapter, and what activities do you plan to do?
This chapter aims to:
- Have a concrete contribution to reaching Sustainable Development Goals number 6 (clean water and sanitation), number 5 (gender equality), number 3 (good health and wellbeing), and number10 (reducing inequalities within and among countries), particularly in Burkina Faso and the Sahelian region;
- Build a strong interdisciplinary network of Young Water Professionals from French-speaking countries in Africa;
- Engage Young Water Professionals from Burkina Faso to contribute to finding solutions for water challenges;
- Increase the employment rate of Young Water Professionals from Burkina Faso and more broadly from the Sahelian region by empowering their skills in the water area during webinars and workshops;
To achieve its objectives, the YWP Burkina Faso Chapter plans a series of targeted activities. These include monthly capacity-building workshops focused on key topics such as water governance, project management, sanitation systems, Human Rights-Based Approaches, and social mediation—delivered both online and in person by local experts from institutions like 2iE. The chapter will also actively participate in international conferences such as the IWA World Water Congress, UN-Water Conference, and COP meetings, enabling young professionals to contribute to global water discourse and apply innovations locally. To address critical water scarcity issues, the chapter will implement groundwater-focused initiatives, such as sharing knowledge with practitioners aiming at improving borehole success rates. Furthermore, HDP Nexus trainings will build YWPs’ capacities to integrate WASH services with conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and citizen monitoring strategies. In addition, the chapter will lead commemorative campaigns on key international days—including World Water Day and World Toilet Day—through community clean-ups, webinars, and public awareness events.
Meet the founding committee of the IWA YWP Burkina Faso Chapter
August Abdon Kinglo, Chair
August Abdon Kinglo is a groundwater specialist with over five years of experience. He is pursuing a PhD at the University of Montpellier and Institute 2iE, focused on mapping groundwater productivity using machine learning to guide strategies for (1) addressing the impact of shifting climatic conditions on water resources and (2) improving water access across West Africa. He has varied research experience spanning water and agricultural research programs such as LEAP WAGRINNOVA, Water Resources in the Burkina Faso Basement Aquifers, and Water Cycle and Climate Change in West Africa, in partnership with a range of institutions. In West Africa’s race to secure sustainable water access, August Abdon Kinglo stands out as a rising leader in blending science, innovation, and advocacy.
Beyond his research career, August is deeply committed to youth empowerment, using his technical capabilities for good. As a fellow of global leadership programs like the Tony Elumelu Foundation, McKinsey Forward, Microsoft’s Mentorship Programme, and Youth for Water and Climate, he aims to inspire the next generation of water professionals.
Jean Gildas Tapsoba, Vice-Chair
Jean Gildas Tapsoba is a passionate humanitarian aid worker with proven experience in fragile contexts such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, and Niger. He is currently serving as a WASH Delegate in Marrakech, Morocco, where he supports the capacity development of the Moroccan Red Crescent in emergency WASH and coordinates the ongoing earthquake emergency response.
With a strong interest in research, particularly in water security and governance, Jean is convinced that water security remains a major challenge across Africa. His research on urban water security in low-income settlements in Accra, Ghana, highlighted persistent gaps in access to safe drinking water services; gaps often driven by socio-economic and political factors. In countries prone to natural disasters or conflict, water security is even more vulnerable. Jean believes that identifying the key drivers of water insecurity and strengthening WASH systems are essential steps toward ensuring long-term, equitable access to water for all.
Risnata Ouedraogo, Communication Coordinator
Risnata Ouedraogo is a journalist and climate activist from Burkina Faso, working on various thematic such as communication, community engagement, and climate justice. Her commitment is rooted in the field: she organises educational workshops to raise awareness among children and youth about environmental protection, climate change, waste management, and biodiversity. For her, education and local action are important to build a resilient society in the face of ecological crises.
At the international level, she participated as a junior negotiator on loss and damage at COP28 in Dubai and COP29 in Baku, where she voiced the concerns of youth in climate justice discussions. She advocated for fair climate financing and recognition of the realities faced by vulnerable countries. Active in networks such as GYBN Francophone, FEMNET, and Oxfam, Risnata has led awareness campaigns, participated in regional and international policy dialogues, and supported projects related to biodiversity, women’s rights, and climate financing in West Africa.
As a communicator, she uses media, social networks, and content production (reports, podcasts, and blogs) to make climate issues more accessible to the public. Trained in professional journalism, Risnata is also interested in environmental governance, climate education, nature-based solutions, and intergenerational justice.
Faysal Faroik Coulibaly, External Relations Coordinator
Faysal is the Deputy General Administrator of BA-HYDRO BURKINA SA, a leading water supply and Sanitation Company, and the General Administrator of COOL ENERGY AFRIQUE. With over 5 years of experience in the water and sanitation sectors, Faysal has built a strong foundation in developing, managing, and optimising water systems. He holds a Master’s in Business Administration and Management from LaSalle University in Pennsylvania and is a former D2 basketball player at Dakota College in North Dakota. His objectives include improving water security across Burkina Faso by promoting sustainable water management practices and ensuring equitable access to clean water for underserved communities.
Ophelie Konsimbo, Membership Engagement Coordinator
Ophelie is a PhD candidate at Bordeaux Law School. Her professional and academic background is in law, social sciences, literature, and the arts. She is a fierce advocate for human rights and accessible knowledge for all.
She has worked since the age of 17 in law firms, public institutions, and non-profit organisations with the firm resolution of contributing modestly to changing the misery narrative in Africa. She is the published author of four books, two collections of short stories, one collection of poems and prose, and a theatre play.
One of her research projects? revolves around the anthropological, historical, economic, and political place of women. Since water is a mandatory resource for human life, it is central to study the way this precious element affects the lives of millions of women in Burkina Faso.
Aurélie Létissia Tapsoba, Specialist Group Coordinator
Aurélie is a water resources engineer with over five years of experience who is deeply committed to addressing the critical challenges surrounding water access and management. She currently serves as a Rural Engineering Officer within the Advisory Support Department of the Technical Secretariat for Integrated Water Resources Management and oversees the drinking water initiatives at TAPS-Service.
Driven by a strong passion for community engagement and convinced of young people’s vital role in sustainable development, Aurélie is actively involved in several associations. She is the founder of the Water for All project, an initiative that earned her a place in the prestigious Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) program.
Through her work, Aurélie remains convinced that the water crisis can be overcome by fostering knowledge, promoting rational water management, and ensuring its availability for all essential uses.
Leila Yasmine Toure, University Coordinator
Leila E is a dedicated water engineer with over five years of experience in humanitarian aid, specialising in WASH and Shelter interventions in crisis-affected regions. Currently serving as a humanitarian actor in Burkina Faso, Leila supports the design and implementation of emergency WASH and shelter responses for populations displaced by armed conflict and climate-related shocks.
Over the past years, she has successfully coordinated the construction of more than 900 emergency shelters and overseen the rehabilitation of over 50 water points in hard-to-reach areas. Her work focuses on ensuring access to safe water and dignified shelter for vulnerable populations, while also contributing to the long-term strengthening of WASH systems.
Leila is convinced that sustainable solutions to Africa’s water crisis will be driven by committed, well-informed local actors. Through both fieldwork and advocacy, she remains dedicated to building a more equitable future in which every community can access safe water and sanitation.
Adeotan Younaise Sounkanmi Olouwachéyi, IWA YWP Chapters Coordinator
Adeotan Younaise is a dedicated hydrogeologist with over five years of hands-on experience in groundwater exploration, sustainable access to water, and resource management. Currently pursuing her PhD at 2iE, her research centres on enhancing borehole success rates and improving groundwater productivity in the basement rock regions of Burkina Faso, employing advanced data-driven methodologies. This work directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on ensuring clean water and sanitation for all.
Throughout her career, Younaise has demonstrated a strong commitment to both scientific rigour and practical impact. She has developed a comprehensive geospatial database in collaboration with a professional engineering firm, facilitating more informed decision-making in water resource projects. Her extensive field experience spans Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso, where she has been actively involved in geophysical surveying, borehole siting, drilling supervision, and water quality assessment. These roles have equipped her with a deep understanding of the technical, logistical, and environmental challenges inherent to groundwater development in diverse settings.
If you have questions regarding the IWA YWP Community, please, contact Isabela Espindola, IWA Membership Engagement Senior Officer.
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