In this article, we sought to build an overview of the implementation of the cistern program in the Brazilian semiarid region, with the purpose of understanding the limits and potential of the resulting collective learning mechanisms. The relationship between the State and civil society established in this process constituted the background of the analysis that was based on categories derived from the decolonial and senian approaches. It was found that the dismantling of the Cisterns Program curtailed the possibilities of an agency under construction and deprived hundreds of family farmers of access to water.Neste artigo, buscou-se construir um panorama da implementação do programa de cisternas no semiárido brasileiro, com o propósito de compreender os limites e as potencialidades dos mecanismos de aprendizagem coletiva dele resultantes. A relação entre Estado e sociedade civil estabelecidas nesse processo constituiu o pano de fundo da análise que se fundamentou  em categorias oriundas das abordagens decolonial e seniana. Verificou-se que o desmantelamento do Programa de cisternas cerceou as possibilidades de agência em construção e privou centenas de agricultores familiares do acesso à água.