COMMENT: Cities and country, or cities versus country? Urban-rural water allocations in semi-arid lands – the case of Burkina Faso

Cities, with substantial residential populations, expect to receive priority access to water over communities in rural areas. In semi-arid regions – which face climate variability and increasing pressure on water resources, what are the practical steps that key policy and decision makers should take to ensure an allocation of water resources between urban and rural areas that helps improve lives and livelihoods in both cities and country? This blog examines the issues in the context of Burkina Faso.