OUAGADOUGOU, November 22, 2025 – The Government of Burkina Faso and the World Bank have formalized a credit agreement, providing an additional 100.4 million dollars. This significant funding aims to bolster the Human Capital Protection Project, specifically ensuring the continued delivery of essential social services throughout Burkina Faso.
These new resources are earmarked to solidify free healthcare provisions for women and children, strengthen routine immunization campaigns, facilitate the organization of national examinations, and support teacher training initiatives. These interventions are crucial for safeguarding human capital and offering vital protection to the nation’s most vulnerable populations.
Since its initial approval in September 2024, the project has demonstrated remarkable progress. Within the health sector, it has enabled over 16 million free consultations for women and children under five, alongside the vaccination of 1.13 million children. Furthermore, the rate of reimbursement for free healthcare expenditures has seen a notable improvement, climbing from 75% in 2023 to 82% by the end of 2024.
In the education sector, the project has been instrumental in the successful execution of nine national examinations, achieving an impressive 98% participation rate. It also facilitated the certification of 99.8% of teachers and the distribution of 69,000 pedagogical kits, significantly enhancing educational infrastructure.
“The indispensable contribution of human capital to a country’s development is undeniable. This supplementary financing will undoubtedly amplify the Government’s dedication to preserving and nurturing this capital, a cornerstone for Burkina Faso’s economic growth and societal advancement,” explained Hamoud Abdel Wedoud Kamil, the World Bank Resident Representative in Burkina Faso.
The Human Capital Protection Project, funded by the International Development Association (IDA), aligns perfectly with the World Bank’s regional strategy for West and Central Africa (2021–2025), which focuses on strengthening key institutions responsible for service delivery. It is also consistent with Burkina Faso’s specific Country Partnership Framework.
“This additional funding is critical for solidifying the gains made in the education and health sectors, which have been severely impacted by the security crisis. It will ensure that all populations, including internally displaced persons, maintain improved access to fundamental social services,” stated Ousmane Deme, Senior Public Sector Specialist, and Daniel Pajank, Senior Economist, both project managers at the World Bank.
