The African Development Bank Group is refining its roadmap in Burkina Faso. A delegation led by Lamin Barrow, the bank’s director general for West Africa, conducted a mission in Ouagadougou from May 4 to 8, 2026. The team initiated consultations to develop the Country Strategy Paper for 2027–2031, which will guide the institution’s support for Burkina Faso’s development priorities.

The mission assessed the outcomes of the interim framework for 2022–2026, which was extended through the end of this year. It also identified key areas for the next partnership. Priorities include economic resilience, infrastructure development, productive transformation, private sector support, and better project execution.

During discussions with authorities, Lamin Barrow praised “the government’s security efforts and the macroeconomic performance achieved.” He also highlighted the importance of the new National Development Plan “RELANCE” for 2026–2030, which aims to accelerate growth.

For his part, Minister of Economy and Finance Aboubakar Nacanabo argued for stronger support for productive investments to boost industrialisation, expand energy capacity, and enhance private sector competitiveness. He also urged the bank to show “more speed and flexibility in conducting its operations.”

Numbers already show the partnership’s significance. As of April 30, 2026, the BAD’s active portfolio in Burkina Faso included 19 projects across five strategic sectors, totalling $956.1 million. Since the interim document was launched, 13 projects have been approved, with two more expected by year-end.

The consultations also highlighted several challenges for the next cooperation cycle: accelerating procurement procedures, increasing responsiveness to immediate population needs, and maintaining investments across the entire territory despite persistent fragility.