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Burkina Faso
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Situation and Cooperation
Burkina Faso's core problem is structural poverty: almost 40 per cent of its population of around 16 million live below the absolute poverty threshold. On the UNDP Human Development Index, Burkina Faso is ranked 161st of the 169 states reviewed (HDI 2010).
A low level of education, an inadequate health system, deficits in the quality and quantity of the water supply, and underutilisation of existing potentials in the agricultural sector are all impediments to Burkina Faso's development. Unfavourable production factors are a further problem. The costs of energy and transportation arising from Burkina Faso's landlocked location are very high. Furthermore, the workforce is poorly trained and productivity is low. Around 70 per cent of the population cannot read and write. The health status of the working population is poor. Malaria, meningitis and HIV/AIDS are prevalent, and life expectancy is just 53 years. Around half the population is under fifteen. 1.3 per cent of adults are infected with HIV.
The high rate of population growth further aggravates this situation. Although good farming land is very scarce, the country has more and more mouths to feed. As a result, people move on to places where the soil is still fertile. Many of these newly developed areas are then farmed too intensively, and the soils become permanently unusable as a result. If the population continues to expand at the present rate, Burkina Faso will be unable to feed its people within only a few decades. The main effect of this will be growing pressure on the towns and cities. Twenty per cent of the country's population already live in urban areas.
Burkina Faso has nevertheless made significant progress in terms of development. In recent years key indicators for attainment of the Millennium Development Goals have shown continuous improvement. The proportion of malnourished children has fallen by a third within the last decade to just under 30 per cent (2007). The number of children attending school has more than doubled – from 30 per cent (1990) to more than 70 per cent (2008). There have also been significant improvements in access to clean drinking water (1993: 18.3 per cent, 2007: 66.3 per cent) and in reduced infant and maternal mortality.
Economy
Burkina Faso's economic performance is above average for the region, although in 2009, as a result of the worldwide crisis, the economy grew by only 3.2 per cent. Economic growth of between five and six per cent is forecast for 2010 and 2011, but with population growth at 3 per cent this is not enough to achieve a sustainable reduction in poverty.
The major share of economic growth is attributable to the agricultural sector, which is strongly dependent on external influences such as rainfall and world market prices. Four-fifths of the population work in agriculture, which generates approximately 40 per cent of gross domestic product. There is very little industry. Efforts to diversify the economy through horticulture and beef production have been modest in scale. The country struggles with its unfavourable geographical location: because Burkina Faso is landlocked, transportation costs for export industries are high. Rising energy costs, poor infrastructure and a low level of training are also constraints on development.
The country's foreign exchange earnings have in the past come mainly from the export of two products: cotton and livestock. There are currently few opportunities for the secondary processing of agricultural products. However, the importance of the mining sector is growing: between 2008 and 2010 its production has quadrupled. Gold mining is particularly profitable, and revenue from the export of gold now exceeds that from cotton. Unfair terms of trade on the world market have a very negative impact on the competitiveness of cotton, which was previously Burkina Faso's most important export product. Within the scope of the Cotton Initiative, the country is thus fighting shoulder to shoulder with Mali and Benin to overturn the subsidies granted by the USA, the EU and the People's Republic of China to their own farmers.
The poor situation on the national labour market is forcing hundreds of thousands to seek work abroad. It is estimated that five million Burkina Faso nationals are now living in neighbouring West African states. However, the crisis in neighbouring Côte d'Ivoire has forced numerous migrants to return home in recent years. Their reintegration is a difficult challenge for the state.
Regional integration and stability
Burkina Faso is committed to political and economic integration on the African continent. It is a member of various regional organisations, including the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). One priority of the government is to improve relations with neighbouring countries as well as step up relations with major donor countries (EU member states, Switzerland, Canada, Taiwan and the USA).
The country was and is involved in various peace missions of the African Union and the United Nations, including missions in Burundi, Liberia, Haiti, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan. On account of its relative stability Burkina Faso plays a positive role in the region. For example, in 2010 President Compaoré acted as a mediator in Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire, working to secure a stable peace and ensure free elections.
Since early 2011 Burkina Faso has experienced repeated incidents of violent unrest that have led to injuries and fatalities. The circumstances to which the protesters have been objecting include rising living costs, unacceptable situations at universities and arbitrary state levies. The riots have involved shootings and plundering of shops and hotels by soldiers and the police in the capital, Ouagadougou, and in other towns and districts.
Human rights
The human rights situation has improved. The government has taken steps in recent years to ensure that human rights are respected. For instance, a fund for the victims of political violence has been set up and reform of the judiciary initiated. Human rights are now the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice.
However, basic rights, and specifically women's rights, hold little sway in rural areas; women are rarely involved in policy-making processes. Girls are still subjected to genital mutilation in many rural areas, although the government is now imposing severe penalties in a bid to put a stop to this practice.
Children's rights, too, are adequately enshrined in law but because of the country's deep poverty they tend not to be enforced or observed. Many children are expected to work hard from an early age, which may mean not being allowed to attend school. The trafficking of children – into conditions that can be close to slavery – is also still prevalent.
Poverty reduction
Burkina Faso produced its first poverty reduction strategy (Cadre Stratégique de Lutte contre la Pauvreté, CSLP) in 2000 and completely revised it in 2003. The third version was drawn up in a participatory process that commenced in 2009; it was adopted in December 2010. This new strategy (Stratégie de Croissance Accélérée et de Développement Durable, SCADD) places greater emphasis on economic growth while also incorporating the previous goals of access to basic social services for the poor, employment and income-generating activities, and good governance. Representatives of civil society were involved in devising the strategy but they have no power to make decisions.
The government of Burkina Faso is struggling to implement the envisaged reforms. The reasons for this include the country's weak financial position, a lack of qualified staff and functioning administrative structures, and infrastructural deficits. Decentralisation of administrative structures and the transfer of more planning and decision-making authority to the local level could speed up implementation of some reforms. The challenge now is to enable local authorities to carry out their new tasks.
Development potential
The overall political climate in Burkina Faso has improved steadily since the early 1990s. Today, the country has a parliamentary democracy and a constitution based on Western models. Parliamentary elections are held every five years, with the last elections taking place in May 2007. In April 2006, the first nationwide municipal elections were held. Society in Burkina Faso is ethnically and religiously tolerant.
The greatest development potential for the country's economy lies in agriculture and downstream sectors. The prerequisite for developing this potential is a more enabling agricultural policy framework which would mobilise the untapped productivity of small farms and stimulate diversification and secondary processing of rural products.
The abolition of subsidies for cotton producers in wealthy countries could allow cotton from Burkina Faso to compete on world markets. This would definitely boost the economy. Improvements in the overall policy climate would also make it possible to increase productivity in small and medium-sized enterprises in the processing of agricultural products other than cotton. This could also stimulate small businesses in the skilled trades sector.
To achieve a more positive trend, the country must improve legal security for investments in the private sector and increase its tax revenues. Furthermore, effective banks must be set up, especially microfinance institutions.
Priority areas of German development cooperation
Development cooperation provides a vital lifeline for Burkina Faso. Grants and foreign loans account for more than 50 per cent of state revenues.
At the government negotiations with Burkina Faso in December 2011, Germany committed 82 million euros for three years.
Development cooperation between Burkina Faso and Germany has produced a number of successes, including a substantial improvement in drinking water supply, improvements in the production base in rural areas and the development of economic and social infrastructure.
Three key priority areas of cooperation have been agreed upon with the government of Burkina Faso. These complement efforts by other donors in Burkina Faso:
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Agriculture and natural resource management
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Decentralisation and municipal development
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Drinking water supply and sanitation.
Germany is also engaged in other sectors through what are known as transversal programmes: these are aimed at promoting human rights, especially women's rights, improving sexual health, especially among young people, combating HIV/AIDS and abolishing child labour.
German experts are also advising the Burkina Faso Ministry of Economy and Finance on poverty reduction issues.
Agriculture and natural resource management
Agriculture has a key role to play in achieving food security for the people of Burkina Faso and reducing poverty. With German support, the government has therefore designed a strategy for rural development up to 2015. This strategy forms the framework for development cooperation between Burkina Faso and Germany. At the same time both sides are working with other African and international partners to identify how the national development strategy can be meaningfully incorporated into a new overall approach to agricultural development in Africa, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
Germany is also helping Burkina Faso to introduce market-oriented production and processing of agricultural goods. To this end, agricultural products with good market prospects are being identified. New services for market integration, product processing and improved quality standards are being developed as part of development cooperation activities. It is hoped that these services will help increase farmers' income. Another area of activity is the introduction of improved financial mechanisms. Measures to protect against erosion and make use of flood plains are intended to help with the sustainable management of natural resources.
Decentralisation and municipal development
The most important objective of cooperation between Burkina Faso and Germany in the priority area of "Decentralisation and municipal development" is to promote democracy and participation by all social groups in Burkina Faso's development process. Burkina Faso's constitution of 1991 enshrines decentralisation as part of the process of democratic reform. Similarly, Burkina Faso's poverty reduction strategy emphasises that effective administrative structures are vital for poverty reduction.
The Federal Republic of Germany is supporting the establishment of democratically legitimated self-government structures. Regional institutions can generally operate more efficiently and make more appropriate decisions than central government authorities in the capital. It is hoped that this will improve the quality of life and reduce poverty among the target group of the poor population.
Key areas of cooperation in this sector are the definition and delineation of local government and central government mandates, staff training and the assessment of the financial inputs required to run decentralised administrative units. A fund geared to improving municipal infrastructure is intended to enhance the financial standing of self-governing bodies. The capacities of the new rural administrative units, which were set up after the local elections in April 2006, are also to be improved with the help of development cooperation measures.
Drinking water supply and sanitation
Water supply systems in Burkina Faso are not adequate to provide clean drinking water to the population. In future this situation will only become more acute as climate change causes groundwater and surface water resources to dwindle.
In December 2006, the government passed a national drinking water and sanitation programme. The programme provides the framework for inputs from the government, non-governmental organisations and donors. The bodies set up to pursue implementation of the programme coordinate the contributions of the individual actors. Ongoing projects under the programme of cooperation between Burkina Faso and Germany in the field of rural water supply are scheduled to end shortly. Their successful attempts to link up with the private sector have been integrated into the national strategy.
Currently, development cooperation between Burkina Faso and Germany is focused on drinking water supply and sanitation in small and medium-sized towns. Migration into these towns has produced large deficits in these areas. Following decentralisation, the towns must now take on management tasks as well – tasks for which they are not yet properly equipped. The aim of the new programme is to get the users more involved in the operation of water supply systems. To achieve this, municipal level institutional reforms are to be introduced. The aim of cooperation is to supply the people with safe drinking water and to establish a sewage system in line with needs.
Debt relief
Burkina Faso is one of the countries whose debt burden has been dramatically reduced in recent years thanks to the debt relief initiative of the G8 states (HIPC Initiative). In May 2000, Burkina Faso was one of the first countries to submit a PRSP, which was accepted shortly afterwards by the IMF and the World Bank. Burkina Faso reached the completion point in April 2002 and thus qualified for a debt cancellation package amounting to 424 million US dollars; on top of this, Burkina Faso had another 129 million US dollars in debt cancelled by its creditors.
As part of the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) decided upon at the 2005 G8 summit in Gleneagles, a further 1.16 billion US dollars in debts owed by Burkina Faso were cancelled. The financial resources freed up by debt cancellation are benefiting the social sector, especially health and education. However, long-term debt sustainability could worsen again as a result of low cotton and high oil prices.
Information
Publications
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Decentralisation and local self-government
Leaflet
(PDF 372 KB, accessible) -
Rural development and its contribution to food security
BMZ Strategy Paper
(PDF 276 KB, accessible) -
Combating Desertification
Leaflet
(PDF 1 MB, accessible) -
Climate Challenges
Germany’s international approach
(PDF 1.8 MB, accessible)
