OUAGADOUGOU, November 22, 2025 – The Government of Burkina Faso and the World Bank have officially signed a credit agreement for an additional $100.4 million. This funding is dedicated to bolstering the Human Capital Protection Project, specifically its component focused on ensuring the continuity of essential social services throughout Burkina Faso.
These resources are allocated to solidify free healthcare provisions for women and children, enhance routine vaccination campaigns, guarantee the smooth organization of national examinations, and support the professional development of teachers. Such critical services are vital for nurturing the nation’s human capital and safeguarding its most vulnerable populations.
Since its initial approval in September 2024, the project has already demonstrated substantial positive impacts. In the health sector, it has facilitated over 16 million complimentary consultations for women and children under five years old, alongside the immunization of 1.13 million children. Furthermore, the reimbursement rate for expenditures related to free healthcare has significantly improved, rising from 75% in 2023 to 82% by the end of 2024.
Within the education sector, the initiative has been instrumental in organizing nine national examinations, achieving an impressive 98% participation rate. It also contributed to the certification of 99.8% of educators and the distribution of 69,000 essential pedagogical kits.
“The undeniable contribution of human capital to a country’s development is universally recognized. This supplementary financing will undoubtedly reinforce the Government’s ongoing efforts to preserve and elevate this crucial asset, which is fundamental for Burkina Faso’s economic growth and social progress,” explained Hamoud Abdel Wedoud Kamil, the World Bank’s Resident Representative for Burkina Faso.
The Human Capital Protection Project, funded by the International Development Association (IDA), is fully integrated into the World Bank’s regional strategy for West and Central Africa (2021–2025), which aims to strengthen key institutions for service delivery. It also aligns seamlessly with Burkina Faso’s Country Partnership Framework.
“This additional funding is pivotal for consolidating the achievements in the education and health sectors, which have been severely impacted by the security crisis. It will ensure that communities, including internally displaced persons, continue to benefit from enhanced access to fundamental social services,” affirmed Ousmane Deme, Senior Public Sector Specialist, and Daniel Pajank, Senior Economist, both project leaders at the World Bank.
