Results around the world – Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is one of the poorest nations in the world.  In 2017, the country ranked 183^rd out of 188 countries on the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Index, and 145^th out of 160 countries on the UNDP’s Gender Inequality Index. However, the country has made significant progress in the area of basic education, access to safe drinking water, and the fight against HIV / AIDS.

In Burkina Faso, the challenges preventing the full respect of women’s rights are multiple and gender-based violence is frequent. The country still faces a high rate of maternal mortality which is influenced by such social and cultural factors as multiple and closely spaced pregnancies as well as inadequate sexual education programs. Half of women also suffer from anemia and almost a third of children under the age of five suffer from chronic malnutrition.

Canada’s development assistance priorities in Burkina Faso support the country’s Plan national de développement économique et social 2016-2020. Specifically, Canada’s programs target the following action areas:

• Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls by promoting the respect of their rights as well as supporting local and regional women's organisations and networks that work to promote women's rights, women's empowerment and gender equality;
• Human dignity, with a focus on strengthening the universal access to basic education, especially for girls, strengthening the provision of technical and vocational training for youth and the unemployed, with particular emphasis on women,  improving the access of women and children to appropriate sexual and reproductive health and rights services, and
  addressing the needs of people affected by humanitarian crises, as necessary and appropriate;
• Growth for the benefit of all, by promoting access to water and clean energy while creating jobs for women and men;
• Peace and security, by increasing women’s leadership and participation in efforts to prevent terrorism and violent extremism; 

Canada also helped to address development-related nutrition and health issues through multilateral organizations such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and GAVI – The Vaccine Alliance. 

Key results

2018-2019:

• Through its support to the Government of Burkina Faso, Canada supported access to quality basic education, particularly for girls. In 2017, parity between girls and boys, as well as the gross enrolment ratio at elementary school, was maintained. Since 2009, primary school attendance has increased by 15% and the number of girls completing primary school has increased by 25%. Canada also helped to improve basic sanitation in primary schools across the country, which means that 76% of primary schools in Burkina Faso now have functional latrines; this has had a positive impact on access to education and in keeping girls in school. 
• Through the International Bureau for Children's Rights, Canada has helped train nearly 3,400 students from Burkina Faso's security forces, justice personnel and social workers who are now better equipped and qualified to protect the rights of children, girls and boys.
• Through Helen Keller International, Canada has enabled 3,786 adolescents, including 3,599 girls and 187 boys, to adopt a contraceptive method of their own.  It is estimated that nearly 14,100 girls and 15,600 boys received counselling for HIV testing. In addition, awareness-raising activities have improved adolescents' knowledge of sexual and reproductive health (SRH), which improves service utilization.
• Through the CECI, Canada has helped improve the socio-economic living conditions of more than 2400 women in rural areas, in particular, by the construction of two new steaming centres.
• With the assistance of the Parliamentary Centre organisation, Canada supported the consolidation of democracy in Burkina Faso and the participation of women in decision-making bodies. Members of the National Assembly in Burkina Faso, supported by parliamentary staff, perform their representation, legislative and oversight functions more effectively, transparently and accountably.
• Canada also supported the Government of Burkina Faso in its mediation efforts with armed groups and the management of weapons and ammunition of its security forces.