Gilbert Bassolé

Gilbert brings the practical insight that comes from managing public water services firsthand. He knows that infrastructure alone does not guarantee reliability. A service earns public trust when the institution behind it can plan ahead, invest wisely, oversee operations, manage public resources, monitor performance and address weaknesses before they become systemic failures.

Gilbert works with public authorities, utilities, municipalities, operators and project teams to strengthen the operational foundations of water and sanitation services. His experience spans hydrology, infrastructure programmes, regional operations, training, utility management, project monitoring and institutional oversight. As former Director General of ONEA, Burkina Faso’s national water and sanitation utility, he contributed to strategic planning processes that aligned investment needs, operational performance and state accountability. He also served as Technical Inspector at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Sanitation, reviewing the administrative, technical and financial functioning of services, projects and programmes.

What sets Gilbert apart is not his commitment to reform in theory, but his practical understanding of how public operators function in reality. He understands the constraints of field teams, the demands placed on national utilities, the risks associated with infrastructure delivery, and the role of professional training in improving service performance. Within Riva, his value is greatest when applied to practical missions: strengthening public operators, coaching project teams, overseeing infrastructure-related processes, improving accountability in delegated management, and helping institutions translate plans into operational discipline.

A few highlights

• 25+ years of experience in water and sanitation, mainly in Burkina Faso, with additional professional experience in Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Niger.
• Former Director General of ONEA, Burkina Faso’s national water and sanitation utility, contributing to the Global Development Plan 2023–2037, Strategic Plan 2023–2027 and draft State–ONEA performance contract.
• Former Technical Inspector of Services at Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Sanitation, with technical, administrative and financial oversight responsibilities.
• Former Head of ONEA’s Water Professions Centre, supporting training, professionalisation programmes, learning platforms and capacity development.
• Led or supported major KfW Development Bank-financed water infrastructure and service development programmes, including the PEA-SO and AEPA-4R water supply and sanitation initiative in several secondary towns.
• Academic qualifications: specialised Master’s Degree in Water and Sanitation Services Management, AgroParisTech, Montpellier; postgraduate diploma in Agricultural Hydraulics; degree in Hydrogeological Engineering.  
• Working languages: French, with functional English.