Case: Burkina Faso

TENURE TYPE: LAND TENANT

INTERVENTION: SHELTER CONSTRUCTION

TENURE DURATION: MEDIUM TERM

Protracted conflicts and political instability have caused massive waves of displacement in Burkina Faso, with many IDPs arriving in urban areas seeking long-term housing solutions. Limited capacity prompted the government to donate land for transitional shelter areas in peri-urban areas for the construction of housing units. The shelter project had to ensure the right to construct shelters and affected communities to occupy the shelters on state-allocated land in the context of a protracted crisis.

Key actions

Time and resources were allocated early on to hold dialogues with local and traditional authorities to confirm the rights to construct the shelters on the municipality-provided land. 

Municipal Urban Resilience Cells (CMRUs) consisting of representatives from municipal service providers, provincial and regional governments, utilities service providers, local community leaders and IDP representatives) were established in each project location.

Shelter actors worked closely with local authorities to ensure participation, transparency and continued project approval. Project teams also hosted several follow-up meetings to address land-related concerns with all relevant stakeholders.

As the main multi-stakeholder decision-making body, CMRUs were used to act as conflict resolution bodies for land tenure issues.