The African Development Bank (AfDB) is refining its approach to support Burkina Faso’s development ambitions. A high-level delegation led by Lamin Barrow, AfDB’s West Africa Director-General, conducted a working visit to Ouagadougou from May 4 to 8, 2026, to initiate consultations for the upcoming Country Strategy Paper (CSP) 2027-2031. This framework will shape the bank’s future investments aligned with the country’s key development priorities.
During this mission, the team assessed progress under the interim cooperation framework for 2022-2026, which remains active through year-end. Discussions focused on identifying strategic focus areas for the next partnership cycle. Key priorities include economic resilience, infrastructure development, productive transformation, private sector support, and improving project implementation efficiency.
In meetings with government officials, Lamin Barrow commended Burkina Faso’s progress in macroeconomic performance and security efforts. He emphasized the critical role of the national development plan “RELANCE” (2026-2030) in driving sustainable growth across sectors.
The Minister of Economy and Finance, Aboubakar Nacanabo, urged the bank to enhance support for productive investments to bolster industrialization, expand energy capacity, and strengthen private sector competitiveness. He also called for greater operational agility, requesting faster approval processes and more flexible funding mechanisms.
Recent data highlights the scale of AfDB’s engagement in Burkina Faso. As of April 30, 2026, the bank’s active portfolio comprised 19 projects across five strategic sectors, totaling $956.1 million in commitments. Since the interim framework’s launch, 13 new projects have received approval, with two more expected before year-end.
Consultations also revealed critical challenges for the next cooperation cycle: streamlining procurement procedures, responding swiftly to urgent community needs, and sustaining investments nationwide despite ongoing security concerns.
