Overview
Burkina Faso is a landlocked Sahelian country and historically in strong interaction with its neighbours, in particular Mali and Niger. After having been considered an isle of stability in a Sahelian region prone to crises and insecurity, the country has and is experiencing a serious multidimensional crisis (political, security - linked to the development of armed terrorist groups on its territory, humanitarian, food insecurity).
The EU aims to maintain the dialogue and diplomatic channels open with the transitional authorities while continuing to support its population.
Our partnership
Political interaction between the EU and the transitional authorities is still ongoing and the dialogue at technical level with the partner administrations on current cooperation projects has remained open. For the time being, budget support, cooperation through the State and security-related programmes are put on hold. Actions benefitting the most vulnerable part of the population have always been and are implemented despite the new political setting.
Team Europe in Burkina Faso brings together the EU, the European Investment Bank, and the Member States active in the country, including Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, and Italy. Together, we implement coordinated efforts across key sectors to deliver lasting impact.
In the period 2021–2024, the EU committed €283 million in grant funding towards the partnership around two priorities: inclusive human development, and a green and resilient economy.
Burkina Faso also benefits from several regional and thematic programmes.
EU-Burkina Faso partnership documents can be found in the 'Related documents' section below.
Our key initiatives
- Inclusive human development
Improving education, health, and social protection by:
- Strengthening health systems and nutrition services, including sexual and reproductive health and malnutrition prevention.
- Expanding access to primary and technical education and investing in education in emergency settings (e.g. OKDB education programme).
- Supporting youth empowerment through skills development, Erasmus+ and Africa-EU academic mobility programmes.
- Enhancing social protection and improving access to drinking water and sanitation in underserved regions.
- Supporting displaced populations and promoting peaceful coexistence between communities.
- A green and resilient economy
The EU and Burkina Faso are working to set up a “Green Deal for young people”, fostering sustainable growth and employment opportunities, especially for youth by:
- Boosting agri-food value chains, agroecology, and sustainable natural resource management, including in the Boucle du Mouhoun and Hauts-Bassins regions.
- Investing in rural electrification, clean energy, and energy access.
- Boosting digital skills of young people in targeted value chains.
- Developing infrastructure and green urban planning in secondary cities as part of the Abidjan–Ouagadougou corridor strategy.
- Contributing to biodiversity conservation through the Great Green Wall and support to protected areas.