In the heart of Ouagadougou, the African Development Bank Group is charting a new course for Burkina Faso’s future. From May 4 to 8, 2026, a high-level delegation led by Lamin Barrow, the Bank’s West Africa Director-General, initiated a series of consultations to shape the Country Strategy Paper 2027-2031. This framework will guide the Bank’s support to align with the nation’s evolving development priorities.
The visit served a dual purpose: assessing the outcomes of the interim cooperation framework for 2022-2026—recently extended through year-end—and identifying key focus areas for the upcoming partnership cycle. Among the central themes emerging are economic resilience, infrastructure development, productive transformation, private sector support, and enhanced project execution efficiency.
During discussions with government officials, Lamin Barrow commended Burkina Faso’s security efforts and macroeconomic achievements, while emphasizing the pivotal role of the national development plan ‘RELANCE’ (2026-2030) in driving sustainable growth momentum.
Aboubakar Nacanabo, Minister of Economy and Finance, underscored the urgent need to bolster investments in productive sectors to fuel industrialization, expand energy capacity, and bolster private sector competitiveness. He urged the Bank to adopt a more agile approach in project implementation, calling for greater speed and flexibility in operations.
Hard data underscores the depth of the Bank’s engagement in Burkina Faso. By April 30, 2026, the active portfolio included 19 projects across five critical sectors, totaling $956.1 million in commitments. Since the interim framework was introduced, 13 new projects have been approved, with two more slated for finalization before year-end.
The consultations also surfaced pressing challenges for the upcoming cycle: streamlining procurement processes, enhancing responsiveness to urgent citizen needs, and sustaining territorial investments amid ongoing fragility.
