A Distinction Between the Stakeholders Around the Salbisgo Dam in Burkina Faso to Better Understand Their Logic of Action

ABSTRACT: The multiplicity of water resources uses around hydraulic structures is at the cause of unconsidered pressure on water, which nonetheless leads to their degradation. Competition for the use of the resource is the result of the contradictory rationales of the involved actors. Around the Salbisgo dam, a group of stakeholders generally includes on the one hand "direct stakeholders", i.e. those who have a physical impact on the dam. On the other hand, are the "indirect stakeholders" who, through their choices, influence the management of the dam through influence on the direct stakeholders. The formers tend to draw on the dam's water resources to satisfy their own needs, while the latters act with a view to efficient governance of the dam's water resources. The aim of this article is to understand the rationale behind the practices of the stakeholders of the Salbisgo dam. The methodology is based on secondary and primary data collected from key stakeholders, combined with field observations. Analysis of the data revealed that the various stakeholders have contrasting rationales. The agricultural users of the dam, such as the market gardeners, have a financial rationale with regard to their actions on the dam pushing them to make their investments profitable. A closer glance at the behaviour of livestock farmers shows that they are trying to sabotage the common good. Actors like fishermen, are pursuing both financial and ecological rationales. As one of the stakeholders, the ONEA is concerned with drinking water supply. Other indirect actors such as the DREA-COS (Direction Régionale de l'Eau et de l'Assainissement du Centre-Ouest), the AEM (Agence de l'Eau du Mouhoun), the CUE (Comité des Usagers de l'Eau) and the Ramongo town council are all involved in technical and administrative issues. All these approaches have an undeniable impact on the sustainability of the dam.