Transforming education in Burkina Faso

Ongoing conflict since 2015 has led to a humanitarian crisis in Burkina Faso and taken a heavy toll on the education sector.

Enrollment in primary and secondary education has been steadily declining, and in 2019, 54% of children aged 6 to 16 were out of school. With over 6,000 schools closed and one million children and 31,000 teachers affected by the crisis, Burkina Faso aims to build resilience and better meet the needs of all children.

As outlined in Burkina Faso’s Partnership Compact, the government is working with GPE and other partners to ensure access to education for all in a context of humanitarian and security crises. Spanning pre-primary to secondary education, reform efforts include developing education service provision through infrastructure building and development of alternative education and distance learning.

A holistic education in emergencies approach will support learners affected by crises, girls and vulnerable children; and better teacher recruitment, allocation and professional development will contribute to improved teaching and learning.

The country’s commitment to gender-responsive planning and policy development aims to address inequalities to the detriment of girls.

Result story

Synergy between innovation and civil society action: examples from Burkina Faso and Senegal

Woubibox in Burkina Faso and the local observatory of education quality in Senegal are two initiatives from civil society organizations. Read how they work and how GPE’s Education Out Loud and KIX initiatives supported them, with the potential to adapt them in other countries.

Key data

42%

out-of-school rate for children of lower-secondary school age

19%

of children start learning one year before entering primary school

88%

of primary teachers have the minimum required qualifications

24%

of government expenditure on education

Grants

(data as of December 20, 2024)

 
  • Type: Program development

    Years: 2024 - 2025

    Allocation: US$194,500

    Utilization: 0

    Grant agent: WB

  • Type: Program implementation

    Years: 2018 - 2024

    Allocation: US$55,000,000

    Utilization: US$53,288,627

    Grant agent: AFD

Civil society engagement

As part of its investment in civil society advocacy and social accountability efforts, GPE’s Education Out Loud fund is supporting:

  • The Coalition Nationale Pour l’Éducation Pour Tous du Burkina Faso (CN-EPT/BF) for the 2024-2026 period. This builds on previous support from the Civil Society Education Fund (CSEF).
  • Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage for the 2024-2026 period.

Learn more

Knowledge and innovation

Latest blogs and news