Burkina Faso

Switzerland focuses on three priority areas to help combat poverty in Burkina Faso: governance and democracy, basic education and vocational skills development (VSD), and local economic development. Switzerland has been providing humanitarian aid to the country's most vulnerable communities since 2019. 

Map of Burkina Faso
© FDFA

Despite fairly sustained economic growth (6.9% in 2021), driven by gold and cotton exports, Burkina Faso remains one of the poorest and most fragile countries in the world. Most of the population live in rural areas, with families relying on subsistence farming, which is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Since 2020, violence linked to extremist groups has increased significantly, which has further weakened the country and undermined trust between citizens and the state. In October 2022, Burkina Faso experienced its second military coup, just nine months after the previous one in January. A 24-month transition period is now under way, which is due to end once elections have been held in mid-2024.  

Against this backdrop of growing insecurity, Switzerland is working to maintain development gains, reduce suffering and facilitate conflict transformation. Activities currently focus on governance and democracy, basic education and vocational skills development, and economic development. 

Governance and democracy

A democratic state governed by the rule of law and public governance for the people

Switzerland is engaged in local capacity building on the issues of governance, decentralisation and citizenship. It supports the development and management of market facilities, water supply systems and infrastructure to improve access, as well as fostering sustainable and high quality public services. Over the past four years, Swiss support has resulted in 221 major infrastructure projects benefiting around 2 million people and in the development of a local labour force, including 20,000 people to build rural roads.

Switzerland also promotes dialogue between civil society and the authorities. Its support for local media (including 25 community radio stations covering 75% of Burkina Faso's territory) strengthens the production and dissemination of reliable and credible information.

Good governance

Basic education and vocational training

A high quality education and training system for all

Switzerland contributes to a number of initiatives aiming to improve the quality of education through:

  • Teacher training,
  • Developing teaching materials,
  • Creating alternatives to formal schooling for children and young adults who have not been able to access the education system,
  • Providing VSD (in collaboration with professional associations, the private sector and regional public services),
  • Enabling children displaced by insecurity to continue their education in school.

Swiss support over the last four years has meant that 15,000 pupils (50% girls) forced to interrupt their schooling were able to continue basic education and VSD in agriculture, forestry and livestock. Since 2017, it has also ensured schooling in a safe environment for around 875,000 children facing insecurity and forced to leave their villages.

Basic education and vocational skills development

Local economic development

A local economy that improves food security and fosters jobs and earning opportunities

Switzerland supports modernising family farms to improve income-earning opportunities for farmers and create jobs, particularly for women and young people, in the following sectors: 

  • Market gardening,
  • Rice growing,
  • Livestock sectors and livestock products,
  • Non-timber forest products such as fruits, seeds and leaves.

Better production, processing and marketing of agricultural products improves the profitability of smallholder farms and strengthens food security. In four years, Swiss support has improved the earning capacities of nearly 625,000 economically active persons (60% women).

Its support for farmers' organisations has also helped bolster their negotiating skills and enabled them to influence national policies. 

Agriculture and food security

Private sector development and financial services

Approach and partners

Switzerland has been present in Burkina Faso since 1974 via the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has been providing general budgetary support and technical assistance for the government's economic efforts since 1994. To effectively address the challenges facing Burkina Faso, Switzerland combines humanitarian interventions, development programmes and peacebuilding and violence prevention in a coherent manner.

The 2021–25 cooperation programme is implemented via partnerships with government institutions, local and international NGOs and other bilateral and multilateral partners. 

Current projects

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2023 Annual Allocation to WFP Country Strategic Plans - Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2023

Against historic levels of food security due to conflicts, climate change and COVID-19, Switzerland supports annually in 28 SDC priority countries operations of the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide humanitarian and development assistance. It funds indistinctively Country Strategic Plans, incorporating all WFP programmes or projects, based on affected population needs and potential synergies with other local partners, especially national governments and civil society.


SYNAD - Programme d’Appui au Système National de Décentralisation

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026

Au Burkina Faso, les institutions nationales sont encore insuffisamment capables d’assurer leurs tâches de coordination, de financement et d’appui technique à la décentralisation. La Suisse soutient les institutions chargées de mettre en œuvre cette réforme, afin d’accroître l’accès aux services de base, de réduire la pauvreté et de prévenir l’extrémisme violent. Elle reste engagée en combinant ses instruments de coopération et montre son soutien dans un contexte de crises sécuritaire et humanitaire.  


Programme de Valorisation du Potentiel Agro-Pastoral dans l’Est du Burkina Faso (VALPAPE) Phase 3

01.01.2023 - 31.01.2026

La région de l’Est du Burkina Faso est affectée par une grave crise sécuritaire et humanitaire qui risque d’annihiler les bons résultats des dernières années sur le plan agropastoral. Aussi, la Suisse veut contribuer à la sauvegarde des acquis de développement tout en renforçant les moyens d'existence des personnes vulnérables touchées par des déplacements. En facilitant leur réinsertion socioéconomique, le programme participe à réduire leur vulnérabilité à l’extrême pauvreté et à l’insécurité alimentaire.


DEPAC 3 - Programme d’appui à la décentralisation et à la participation citoyenne

01.11.2022 - 31.10.2026

La Suisse promeut la décentralisation au niveau national et appuie les collectivités territoriales de quatre régions du Burkina Faso. Dans un contexte marqué par une insécurité croissante, elle renforce leur capacité à faire face aux urgences, à développer la cohésion sociale et la participation citoyenne et à offrir des services de base de qualité aux populations. Ce programme de type nexus contribue à prévenir l’extrémisme violent et à stabiliser le pays, dans l’intérêt de la Suisse.


Projet de promotion de l’Orpaillage Responsable

01.04.2021 - 30.04.2027

Le secteur minier artisanal occupe plus de 800’000 personnes au Burkina Faso. L’exploitation est largement informelle, peu encadrée par l’Etat et génère de graves problèmes environnementaux, sociaux et économiques. La Suisse promeut une exploitation responsable de l’or en renforçant le système national d’encadrement du secteur et en accompagnant les acteurs locaux de six sites pour améliorer les services et conditions de travail et réduire les effets négatifs.


PFNL - Programme d’appui à la valorisation des produits forestiers non ligneux au Burkina Faso

01.01.2021 - 31.12.2024

Au Burkina Faso, le fort potentiel en produits forestiers non ligneux peut être davantage exploité au profit des populations vulnérables en améliorant la sécurité alimentaire et la création de revenus. Pour une dernière phase, la Suisse, avec le cofinancement des Pays-Bas, consolide les acquis d’une manière durable tout en soutenant l’extension dans une nouvelle région pour prendre en compte, en particulier les personnes déplacées internes (PDI), les femmes et les jeunes affectés par la crise sécuritaire.  


Programme de renforcement de la résilience des ménages pastoraux et agropastoraux face aux crises climatiques et à l'insécurité (RESILIA) Phase 1

01.06.2020 - 31.12.2024

la DDC contribue au renforcement de la résilience de plus de 700’000 personnes dont les déplacées internes, affectées par la crise sécuritaire et les changements climatiques au Burkina Faso. Se basant sur la riche expérience de la Suisse dans l’élevage pastoral au Sahel, le programme va soutenir les pasteurs et agropasteurs pour que leur pratique d’élevage et moyens de subsistance s’adaptent aux défis climatiques et améliorent leurs conditions de vie tout en favorisant la paix au Burkina Faso.


UNHAS – Accès aux bénéficiaires en Afrique de l’Ouest

01.06.2020 - 31.12.2023

Dans un contexte d’insécurité civile et alimentaire croissante en Afrique de l’Ouest, aggravée par la crise sanitaire due au Covid-19, seul le service aérien humanitaire des Nations Unies (UNHAS) permet d’accéder aux populations grâce à un transport sûr et rapide d’acteurs et de biens humanitaires et de développement. La contribution à UNHAS permettra d’atteindre les populations vulnérables dans les régions reculées, d’assurer le suivi des programmes suisses et de rendre compte sur ces derniers.


Technical assistance for the Tax Administration Burkina Faso, Phase III

01.04.2021 - 31.07.2025

Burkina Faso is fighting against poverty and social inequality. Increased transparency and better domestic revenue mobilization help in dealing with those challenges. SECO supports the country to this end by providing technical assistance to its Central Tax Administration.


General Budget Support to Burkina Faso (2017-2020)

01.01.2017 - 01.01.2020

SECO is a long-standing partner of Burkina Faso in terms of general budget support. The aid is accompanied by targeted technical assistance. Together with other donors, SECO will support full implementation of the new National Economic and Social Development Plan with a budget support grant in the amount of CHF 30 million for the period 2017-2020.


Technical assistance for the Tax Administration Burkina Faso, Phase II

01.04.2016 - 31.03.2021

Burkina Faso is fighting against poverty and social inequality. Increased transparency and better domestic revenue mobilization help in dealing with those challenges. Additional resources – coming from a more efficient tax administration – allow the country to develop further while reducing external dependence. SECO funded a first phase of the project to the Central Tax Administration (2009-2014). The encouraging results obtained, also with regard to the fight against corruption, have allowed planning for a second phase to ensure sustainability of the progress made. Many crucial lessons have been learned. This allows to tackle this project with confidence in a context of political renewal and economic challenges in Burkina Faso.


General Budget Support to Burkina Faso (2013-2016)

01.01.2013 - 31.12.2016

Switzerland contributes to the General Budget Support operation in Burkina Faso with maximum amount of CHF 32 million for a period of three years (2013-2016). Budget Support fosters the implementation of the economic reforms defined in the Poverty Reduction Strategy ("Stratégie de croissance accélérée et de développement durable", SCADD) of Burkina Faso and accompanies sound macroeconomic policies for sustainable and inclusive economic development.

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