Burkina Faso

Since 1996, cooperation between Burkina Faso and Luxembourg has led to several major initiatives, including the creation of the Ouagadougou Craft Village and the active involvement of numerous Luxembourg NGOs.

This partnership was strengthened by the signing of a general cooperation agreement in 1999, followed by the opening of LuxDev’s office in Ouagadougou in 2003. Today, our teams and partners implement projects in the field, coordinated by the regional office in Dakar.

Initially focused on crafts, health, literacy and the environment, the Agency’s work gradually shifted towards education, vocational training and sustainable development, in line with national policies.

In recent years, we have prioritised more targeted projects, working with local stakeholders to respond as closely as possible to people’s needs.

Burkina Faso is facing a security crisis that is compounding its development challenges. Population displacement is placing growing pressure on essential services and communities. The crisis is also limiting economic prospects for young people, who already face structural barriers.

In a country with a young and rapidly growing population, access to decent work remains a major challenge. Formal jobs are scarce, and many young people rely on precarious work in the informal economy. Training opportunities remain poorly aligned with employers’ needs and are often inaccessible to young people with limited schooling. Yet jobs in the green economy offer new opportunities, provided that young people can develop the skills they need.

In the health sector, populations vulnerable to HIV continue to face stigma and unequal access to prevention, testing and care. Funding disruptions are weakening community-based services and jeopardising continuity of treatment, highlighting the need for sustainable and equitable access to quality care.

Social cohesion is also under strain. It depends on trust between communities, which the spread of false information can undermine by fuelling tensions and mistrust. It also relies on the ability to resolve disputes peacefully. Many people first turn to traditional mechanisms that are accessible and widely recognised. Their formal recognition in law now raises questions about how they will interact with the state justice system.

LuxDev’s work in Burkina Faso helps address these challenges, with a particular focus on young people, women and the most vulnerable populations.