ANALYSIS OF THE LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF THE FLOOD MANAGEMENT SECTOR IN OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO

Urban flooding represents an increasingly critical governance challenge in most Sahelian capitals, where rapid urbanization converges with pronounced climatic variability and constrained institutional capacity. An extensive body of scholarly research has documented both social vulnerability and its associated biophysical factors; however, the institutional framework governing risk management remains comparatively underexplored. This paper investigates the ways in which the organizational structures of public, technical, and community actors shape urban resilience in the face of flooding events in Ouagadougou. This research is predicated upon a documentary review of legal and strategic frameworks, complemented by semi-structured interviews with institutions and key informants. The findings underscore a robust institutional framework that comprehensively encompasses all facets of natural disaster management activities.Nevertheless, this organizational completeness conceals an underlying structural imbalance. Indeed, operational responsibilities are predominantly entrusted to local and community administrative echelons, whereas financial capacities and decision-making authority remain concentrated at the central level. This misalignment constrains the operationalization of preventive policies and perpetuates predominantly reactive management of disasters. This study demonstrates that urban resilience is less conditioned by the expansion of institutional mechanisms than by the effective alignment of coordination, resources, and local capacities. It thereby advocates for the strengthening of territorial competencies within the flood management policy framework in West Africa.