Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is a low-income country located in the heart of the Sahel. Its economy, dominated by the extractive and agricultural sectors, remains vulnerable to security shocks, climatic hazards and commodity price fluctuations. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Human Development Index (HDI) 2025 ranks the country 186 out of 193 countries.

Political Context

Following the September 30, 2022 coup that overthrew Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, Captain Ibrahim Traoré was sworn in as the new transitional president on October 21, 2022. He is the President of Burkina Faso and Head of State. The Transition Charter was amended and adopted on May 25, 2024. According to the new text, the duration of the transition is extended by five years, starting July 2, 2024.

Since 2015, Burkina has been the target of terrorist attacks that have caused population displacement. While there were fewer than 50,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in January 2019, the country counted 2.01 million as of March 30, 2023 (the latest census), according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. According to the government, as of March 2025, more than 1 million IDPs have been resettled in about 700 localities across the country. The health and education sectors have been strongly impacted.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger created the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) on September 16, 2023, to pool their efforts against terrorism. These countries have also decided to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on January 28, 2024, citing a lack of solidarity in their fight against terrorism.

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GDP growth is estimated at 5.3% in 2025, compared to 4.8% in 2024. The services sector remains the main driver of growth, contributing 2.1 percentage points (pp), owing to the good performance of public administration services and the recovery of retail, trading, and repair activities.

The agricultural sector contributed 1.7 pp, supported by favorable rainfall and government support through the Agropastoral and Fisheries Offensive, which led to a 17.6% increase in cereal production compared to the previous season.

The contribution of the secondary sector amounts to 0.9 pp, led by the construction and mining sectors. Gold production reached 94 tons in 2025 (compared to 61 tons in 2024), mainly driven by the formalization of artisanal and semi-mechanical gold panning, and the resumption of industrial production.

The current account balance is estimated to have turned into a surplus of 1.1% of GDP in 2025, driven by the rise in the price of gold. Inflation was -0.5% in 2025, driven by strong agricultural production and lower energy prices. Low inflation combined with two consecutive years of good harvests should contribute to a decline in extreme poverty of 5 percentage points, to 34.6%.

The budget deficit is estimated at 3.7% of GDP in 2025, driven by declining capital and personnel expenditures, combined with stable revenue mobilization.

Medium-Term Outlook

Assuming continued improvement in security, favorable rainfall, and a stable political environment, GDP growth is expected to reach 6.1% in 2026. It is expected to slow to 5.5% by 2028. Inflation is expected to reach 2.3% in 2026, driven by higher oil prices following the conflict in the Middle East.

The government remains committed to a fiscal consolidation policy and the deficit is expected to remain within the WAEMU 3% range by 2028. Poverty is expected to decline by about 1.5 percentage points per year, allowing nearly one million Burkinabè to escape extreme poverty by 2028.

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Education

The Higher Education Support Project (PAES): 7,959 students enrolled in undergraduate programs; 10 higher education and research institutions have received grants totaling CFAF 11.5 billion (more than $19 million).

The Project to Improve Access and Quality of Education (PAAQE): Construction of 327 classrooms in 45 middle and high schools, providing access to about 20,595 students; 1,000 students selected received a subsidy of CFAF 100,000 per year (US$166); construction of science high schools in the 13 regions.

Water and Sanitation

The Water Supply and Sanitation Program (PAEA-PforR): access to drinking water sources for more than 829,000 people; more than 406,800 people gaining access to improved sanitation facilities.

Farming and livestock

The Regional Support Project for the Sahel Irrigation Initiative (PARIIS-BF): Development/rehabilitation of 1,800 ha, with more than 21,062 direct beneficiaries.

The Burkina Faso Livestock Sector Development Support Project (PADEL-B): 392,850 livestock producers have benefited from agricultural goods and services in livestock value chains.

Energy

The Electricity Sector Support Project (PASEL): Construction of a 7.5 MW thermal power plant at Fada N'gourma; electrification of 40 communities and 90 villages; 851 km of low voltage lines; 463 km of medium voltage lines and deployment of 25,000 solar lamps in 400 schools.

Territorial development and resilience

The Emergency Territorial Development and Resilience Project (PUDTR): more than 900,000 beneficiaries of improved social services with the construction and rehabilitation of 248 education and health infrastructures; 207 boreholes and drinking water supply systems; 995 km of rural roads and roads built or rehabilitated, benefiting more than 500,000 people; emergency food and nutrition aid during the lean season (2022 – 2023) for more than 1,400,000 vulnerable people.

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The World Bank Group's Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for 2018-2023 has been extended through 2025 following a mid-term review in June 2022. The new Country Partnership Framework for the 2026-2031 period will be presented to the World Bank's Board of Directors on April 7, 2026. It covers the following three objectives:

• Specific Objective 1: Improved health and education services in a more equitable and inclusive manner.
• Specific Objective 2: Increased access to electricity.
• Specific Objective 3: Improve agricultural productivity and enhance food security.

As of March 10, 2026, the World Bank's portfolio in Burkina Faso consists of 26 operations, covering 14 sectors with total commitments of $4.13 billion for 18 national projects (or $3.1 billion) and 08 regional projects (or $1.03 billion).

Burkina Faso Country Partnership Framework (CPF) FY26-FY31

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IFC focuses on key sectors—agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and SME finance. It works with SMEs to build their capacity, improve their access to finance, and increase their contribution to the country's socio-economic transformation.

IFC has launched the Local Champions Initiative (LCI), a flagship program that, through tailored technical support and strategic advice, aims to transform promising players into economic leaders capable of competing in national and international markets, while generating inclusive, sustainable and job-creating growth.

IFC's engagement in Burkina Faso has increased over the past decade, with cumulative commitments reaching $2.4 billion. The increase has been particularly marked over the past five years: from $148.2 million in 2020 ($51.1 million long-term and $97.1 million short-term), commitments have nearly tripled to reach $449.3 million in 2025 ($115.2 million long-term and $334.1 million short-term).

MIGA

MIGA has two active projects supported by the Private Sector Window (PSW). These include investments in solar PV generation, including the Ouagadougou-Ziniaré 30 MW and Zano projects, with a combined installed capacity of 54 MWp. They benefit from long-term guarantees for a total gross amount of about $10 million, contributing to the increase in clean energy supply and the resilience of the national electricity system.

In addition, the World Bank's Guarantee Platform is exploring new opportunities in coordination with the World Bank and IFC to support private investment in key sectors. The pipeline includes leads in the energy sector to support the M300 initiative and the tourism sector.

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