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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BETTER IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIVITIES IN THE THREE PILOT MUNICIPALITIES

A municipal performance assessment (APA) mission, as part of the implementation of the second funding cycle of the pilot phase of the LoCAL Facility mechanism in Burkina Faso, took place from December 8 to 10, 2025, in Loumbila, Saponé and Pabré.

The mission was led by Sylvain A. VISSOH, an independent consultant hired by UNCDF, in coordination with and with the support of the staff of the Environmental Intervention Fund (FIE). The mission's work consisted of technical working meetings with local stakeholders. This was followed by technical working sessions, site visits, and interviews between the consultant, local authorities, relevant decentralized technical services, and beneficiaries.

The overall objective of the mission is to assist the Government of Burkina Faso in undertaking the annual performance assessments (APA) of the three (3) communes involved in the LoCAL , namely Loumbila, Pabré and Saponé.

Specifically, this involved confirming minimum access requirements based on a pre-established set of minimum conditions; assessing the baseline performance of municipalities according to pre-established criteria (performance indicators) and determining the amounts to be disbursed for the third investment cycle through Performance-Based Climate Resilience Grants (PBCSG).

The mission also identified needs and recommended capacity-building actions and tools; highlighted potential bottlenecks and proposed possible adjustments to inform the design.

It should be noted that the FIE is responsible for implementing the pilot phase of the Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility mechanism. Burkina Faso , abbreviated LoCAL Burkina Faso. It aims to integrate climate change adaptation into local government planning and budgeting systems in a participatory and gender-sensitive manner, and to ensure the establishment of a standard national mechanism recognized internationally.

LoCAL combines Performance-Based Climate Resilience Grants (PBCSGs) with technical support and capacity building. These grants guarantee climate change - related expenditures at the local level and incentivize performance improvements for increased resilience.

Following national consultations, three (3) communes were chosen for the implementation of the pilot phase of the mechanism: the commune of Saponé, in the Nazinon region (formerly Centre-South region), Loumbila in the Oubri region (formerly Plateau-Central region) and Pabré in the Kadiogo region (formerly Centre region).

It should be noted that the first investment cycle was implemented in accordance with the plan, throughout 2023, in the three (3) selected municipalities, and the annual performance evaluation carried out in February 2024 highlighted significant positive results.

These results enabled UNCDF to sign a financing agreement with the Government in September 2024 ( Low-Value Performance- Based) . Payment Agreement ) for US$240,000, covering two investment cycles. The first payment, amounting to US$120,000, is currently being implemented in the three pilot municipalities, hence the annual performance evaluation (APA) for the second cycle.

After fieldwork, the consultant presented the evaluation results on Friday, December 12, 2025, at the FIE headquarters in Ouagadougou, in the presence of stakeholders from the three municipalities, FIE staff, and the UNCDF coordinator.

As main recommendations, the consultant suggests ensuring that the ITS conducts inspections of the municipalities; taking into account the issue of climate data and its analysis; ensuring that the climate vulnerability study of the municipalities is carried out (a specialized study to take into account the specificities of the municipalities); support for the municipalities in updating their PCD, particularly Loumbila and Pabré, and in developing the PAI; support for the municipalities in carrying out accountability sessions (reporting).

Furthermore, the consultant recommends the timely provision of financial resources; the acceleration of infrastructure development (drilling, repairs to pumping and irrigation systems, etc.); ensuring the resumption of activities at the Loumbila and Saponé sites and securing investments (training of stakeholders, establishment of management committees, maintenance of equipment).

The Director General of the FIE, Delwandé Davy NANEMA, and the UNCDF Coordinator, Dr. Jean Marie SOURWEMA, commended the efforts made by stakeholders in the municipalities of Loumbila, Pabré, and Saponé in implementing the activities. They urged them to ensure the sustainability of the investments, with a view to scaling up the mechanism.

Officials from the three municipalities have pledged to become more involved in addressing the challenges by ensuring that activities function better where difficulties have been identified.

DCRP/FIE