Overview
The Population Council began working in Burkina Faso in 1989 on the Africa Operations Research and technical Assistance Project. It established a country office in Ouagadougou in 1994. Program activities are implemented through collaborative partnerships with government institutions, UN agencies, the World Bank, and nongovernmental organizations.
Program focus
From an early focus on population issues and contraceptive technology, the Council’s work in Burkina Faso has expanded to include activities in all three of its program areas: HIV and AIDS; poverty, gender, and youth; and reproductive health. Council research and technical assistance have addressed contraceptive introduction, family planning and fertility, reproductive health, child survival, women’s status, and issues affecting adolescents. As the Burkinabe government expands maternal and child health and family planning services, the Council is studying ways to develop a cost-effective program capable of satisfying demand for a largely rural population. Staff are building on knowledge acquired from the assessments and documentation of the national reproductive health program, including fistula and female genital mutilation/cutting.
Highlights of past work
- Identified strategies to assist girls who are without access to education and health services in isolated rural areas characterized by high rates of early marriage, maternal and infant mortality, fistula, and female genital mutilation/cutting.
- Served as the executing agency of a large, three-year (1999–2002) project funded by UNFPA to improve the capacity and coordination of nongovernmental organizations working in reproductive health; to undertake research and provide support to the Mille Jeunes Filles project; and to conduct operations research on the private-sector provision of reproductive health services.
- Provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Health for the introduction of Norplant® contraceptive implants.
- Conducted situation analyses of the national family planning program to identify areas in need of improvement.
- Conducted a national reproductive health needs assessment in collaboration with the World Health Organization and a local partner; an analysis of the health-information system on maternal and child health/family planning; and a study on ways to promote condom use among young people.
- Provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Health to establish an innovative community-based project in rural Bazèga province. In 1996, the Bazèga Community Health Laboratory began to offer reproductive health services to a population of 30,000 in 40 villages.
- Undertook the first effort to introduce postabortion care services in francophone West Africa.
Banner photo: © Beryl Goldberg
Projects
ExCHANGE: Expanding Community Healthcare Accessibility Network (more)
ExCHANGE is designed to transfer and adapt evidence-based strategies from the Community-based Health Planning and Services Initiative (CHPS) to other countries in sub-Saharan Africa
(1/2005 - ongoing)
Building an Evidence Base to Delay Marriage in Sub-Saharan Africa (more)
Working with partners in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, the Council is testing alternative approaches to delaying marriage in child marriage "hotspots" in East Africa.
(10/2010 - 9/2015)
Child marriage
Migrant Adolescent Girls in Domestic Service: Building the Evidence Base on a Vulnerable Population (more)
Population Council researchers are working with local NGOs to implement and test an intervention for migrant girls in domestic service in urban Burkina Faso that builds skills in health and hygiene with a focus on sexual and reproductive health, numeracy and financial capabilities, and life skills.
(1/2011 - 12/2013)
Adolescence/transitions to adulthood; Financial literacy/livelihoods; Social isolation/support; Vulnerable populations
Quality of Care and Client Willingness to Pay for Family Planning Services at Marie Stopes International Facilities in Burkina Faso (more)
The Council worked with Marie Stopes International to improve the family planning services MSI provides, and to propose strategies to ensure the sustainability of the program.
(11/2011 - 4/2012)
Family planning services; Monitoring and evaluation; Quality of care; Strengthening health systems
Eliminating Child Marriage in Burkina Faso: A Plan for Protection, Empowerment, and Community Action (more)
In Burkina Faso, Council research is working to increase the human security of adolescent girls who are either married or at risk of child marriage.
(8/2008 - 4/2010)
Child marriage
Midterm Evaluation of a Project to Fight Obstetric Fistula in the Sahel Region, MOH/UNFPA Intervention Zone (more)
The Population Council is providing technical support to the government in Burkina Faso to reduce the maternal morbidity and mortality caused by obstetric fistula in the Sahel region.
(5/2010 - 7/2010)
Maternal and newborn health; Postpartum maternal care; Safe pregnancy, antenatal, and delivery care
Developing the Capacity of Community-based NGOs for Improved Health Services (more)
In Burkina Faso, the Council assisted in building the capacity of community-based organizations to provide high-quality health services in south-central Burkina Faso.
(4/2009 - 12/2009)
Strengthening health systems
Comprehensive Condom Programming in West Africa (more)
This Council project identified strategies for re-integrating the female and male condom in the national reproductive health and HIV and AIDS programs of Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Mauritania, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.
(1/2008 - 12/2008)
Access to contraceptive methods; Condoms (male and female); Scaling up interventions
Resources
Featured publication
Population Council in Burkina Faso (PDFs: A4 and letter; en français)
Country profile
Publication date: 2013
Engebretsen,Sarah; Kabore,Gisele; Jarvis,Leah
Publication date: 2012
Filles Eveillées : Programme pilote pour adolescentes migrantes employées de maison au Burkina Faso urbain (PDF)
Engebretsen,Sarah; Kabore,Gisele; Jarvis,Leah
Publication date: 2012
Baseline and endline findings of Filles Eveillées ('Girls awakened'): A pilot program for migrant adolescent girls in domestic service. Cohort 1 (2011-2012), Bobo-Dioulasso (PDF)
Engebretsen,Sarah
Publication date: 2012
Évaluation de processus : Programme Filles eveilées pour adolescentes migrantes employées de maison au Burkina Faso urbain 2012 (PDF)
Jarvis,Leah; Kabore,Gisele
Publication date: 2012
Filles eveillées: Espaces sûrs : une solution pour les adolescentes migrantes travaillant comme domestiques
Publication date: 2012
Girls awakened: A safe spaces solution for migrant adolescent girls in domestic service
Publication date: 2012
Observations initiales et finales de Filles eveillées : Programme pilote de renforcement des compétences des adolescentes migrantes employées de maison. Cohorte 1 (2011-2012), Bobo-Dioulasso (PDF)
Engebretsen,Sarah
Publication date: 2012
Process evaluation: The Filles Eveillées ('Girls awakened') program for migrant adolescent girls in domestic service in urban Burkina Faso (PDF)
Jarvis,Leah; Kabore,Gisele
Publication date: 2012
Réseaux sociaux et les capacités financières des filles employées de maison à Bobo-Dioulasso (PDF)
Kabore,Gisele
Publication date: 2012
Addressing the needs of girls at risk of early marriage and married adolescent girls in Burkina Faso (PDF)
Engebretsen,Sarah; Kabore,Gisele
Promoting Healthy, Safe, and Productive Transitions to Adulthood Brief (no. 9)
Publication date: 2011
Filles éveillées: Programme pour les adolescentes employées de maison--Guide du mentor (PDF)
Population Council
Publication date: 2011
Répondre aux besoins des jeunes filles à risque de mariage précoce et des adolescentes mariées au Burkina Faso (PDF)
Engebretsen,Sarah; Kabore,Gisele
Promouvoir des transitions vers l'âge adulte saines, sécurisées et productives resumen (no. 9 (Mise à jour mai 2011))
Publication date: 2011
Supporting married girls: Calling attention to a neglected group (PDF)
Santhya,K.G.; Erulkar,Annabel S.
Promoting Healthy, Safe, and Productive Transitions to Adulthood Brief (no. 3)
Publication date: 2011
Éliminer le mariage des enfants : Expérience pilote dans cinq régions du Burkina Faso
Kabore,Gisele; Traore,Kotalama; Dipama,Saidou
Publication date: 2010
L'adolescence des filles au Burkina Faso: Une clé de voûte pour le changement social [Girls' adolescence in Burkina Faso: A pivot point for social change] (PDF)
Brady,Martha; Saloucou,Lydia; Chong,Erica
Publication date: 2010
Adolescent experience in-depth: Using data to identify and reach the most vulnerable young people (HTML)
Series of 51 data guides by country
Publication date: 2009
Adolescent experience in-depth: Using data to identify and reach the most vulnerable young people--Burkina Faso 2003 (PDF) (HTML)
Publication date: 2009
Analyse secondaire des données de l'analyse situationnelle des services de santé de la reproduction (PDF)
Kabore,Gisele; Kabore,Idrissa
Rapport
Publication date: 2009
Cartographie sociale des espaces de rencontres des adolescentes mariées ou non dans la zone d'intervention du projet (PDF)
Kabore,Gisele; Semde,Abdoulaye; Some,Lanko
Rapport
Publication date: 2009
Étude approfondie sur les adolescents : Exploiter les données pour identifier et atteindre les jeunes les plus vulnérables--Burkina Faso 2003 [The adolescent experience in-depth: Using data to identify and reach the most vulnerable young people--Burkina Faso 2003] (PDF)
Publication date: 2009
Etude qualitative sur le mariage précoce des adolescentes: Leur vécu, leurs besoins en matière d'éducation, de santé de la reproduction et d'opportunités socio-économiques (PDF)
Kabore,Gisele
Rapport
Publication date: 2009
Etude quantitative sur le mariage précoce et le vécu des adolescentes dans la zone d'intervention du projet: Etat des lieux et perspectives (PDF)
Kabore,Gisele; Dala,Rene; Bado,Aristide R.
Rapport
Publication date: 2009
Itinéraires thérapeutiques des adolescentes pendant la grossesse, l'accouchement et la période post-partum dans la zone d'intervention du projet (PDF)
Kabore,Gisele; Tamboura/Diawara,Aicha; Diallo,Assita Nacanabo; Karama,Abdoulaye
Rapport final
Publication date: 2009
Analyse de la situation du condom féminin au Burkina Faso
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Sawadogo,Ida; Konate,M.
Publication date: 2008
Analyse de l'Evolution de la pratique de l'Excision au Burkina Faso [Analysis of the evolution of the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting in Burkina Faso]
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Congo,Zakari; Ouedraogo,Aina; Sawadogo,Alphosine; Saloucou,Lydia; Tamini,Ida
Rapport Final
Publication date: 2008
Analysis of the evolution of the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting in Burkina Faso [Summary in English; full report in French] (PDF)
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Congo,Zakari; Ouedraogo,Aina; Sawadogo,Alphosine; Saloucou,Lydia; Tamini,Ida
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2008
Burkina Faso: Political will, law enforcement, and educational campaigns appear to be reducing FGM/C (PDF)
FRONTIERS OR Summary (no. 72)
Publication date: 2008
Réponse d'un pays à la lutte contre l'excision
FRONTIERES Résumés de Recherche Opérationnelle
Publication date: 2008
Girls' adolescence in Burkina Faso: A pivot point for social change (PDF)
Brady,Martha; Saloucou,Lydia; Chong,Erica
Publication date: 2007
Premarital sex and schooling transitions in four sub-Saharan African countries (PDF)
Biddlecom,Ann E.; Gregory,Richard; Lloyd,Cynthia B.; Mensch,Barbara S.
Poverty, Gender, and Youth Working Paper (no. 5)
Publication date: 2007
Analyse de l'evolution de la pratique de l'excision au Burkina Faso: L'environment institutionel, politique et programmatique de la lutte contre la pratique de l'excision [Analysis of the evolution of the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting in Burkina Faso: Institutional, political, and programmatic environment surrounding female genital mutilation/cutting] (PDF)
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Congo,Zakari; Ouedraogo,Aina; Sawadogo,Alphosine; Saloucou,Lydia; Tamini,Ida
Publication date: 2006
Exercice de couverture sur les activités des pairs éducateurs au Burkina Faso: Rapport final
Lardoux,Solene; Batebie,Zio S.; Traore,Siaka
Publication date: 2006
Marriage and childbirth as factors in school exit: An analysis of DHS data from sub-Saharan Africa (PDF)
Lloyd,Cynthia B.; Mensch,Barbara S.
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 219)
Publication date: 2006
Strategies for encouraging the abandonment of female genital cutting in West Africa: Experiences from Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Mali
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Askew,Ian; Abusharaf,Rogaia Mustafa
from Female Circumcision: Multicultural Perspectives, pp. 125-141
Publication date: 2006
Burkina Faso: Community education program scaled-up in Burkina Faso (PDF)
FRONTIERS OR Summary (no. 55)
Publication date: 2005
Transferring Ghana's system of evidence-based health program development: Program for an initial exchange with Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso (PDF)
FRONTIERS Report
Publication date: 2005
Experience from a community-based education program in Burkina Faso: The Tostan program (PDF)
Ouoba,Djingri; Congo,Zakari; Diop,Nafissatou J.; Melching,Molly; Banza,Baya; Guiella,Georges; Baumgarten,Inge
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2004
New approaches to integrating STIs, HIV/AIDS, family planning and reproductive health in Bazèga, Burkina Faso
Kabore,Inoussa; Tapsoba,Placide; Askew,Ian; Myers,Jenny
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2003
Participation accrue des personnes vivant avec le VIH/SIDA aux activités des ONG de Lutte Contre le SIDA (PDF)
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2003
Replication of the TOSTAN Programme in Burkina Faso: How 23 villages participated in a human rights-based education programme and abandoned the practice of female genital cutting in Burkina Faso (PDF) (HTML)
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Bagde,Edmond; Ouoba,Djingri; Melching,Molly
Publication date: 2003
Selected DHS data on 10-14-year-olds (HTML)
Annexes by country to Facts about Adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical Tables for Program Planning
Publication date: 2003
Selected DHS data on 10-14-year-olds: Burkina Faso (PDF) (HTML)
Annex to "Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical tables for program planning"
Publication date: 2003
Vers une participation accrue des PVVIH au Burkina Faso (PDF)
Horizons Résumé de la Recherche
Publication date: 2003
Assessing progress to foster greater PLHA involvement in Burkina Faso
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2002
Données sur les adolescents tirées de l'Enquête Démographique et de Santé-Tableaux Statistiques aux fins de la préparation de programmes: Burkina Faso 1999 (PDF) (HTML)
Publication date: 2002
Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey--Statistical tables for program planning: Burkina Faso 1998-1999 (PDF) (HTML)
Publication date: 2002
Greater involvement of PLHA In NGO service delivery: Findings from a four-country study (PDF)
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2002
L'approche TOSTAN inspire 23 villages au Burkina Faso
Research Update no. 3 Juillet 2002
Publication date: 2002
The TOSTAN approach inspires 23 villages in Burkina Faso
Research Update
Publication date: 2002
Burkina Faso: L'amélioration des soins après avortement est bénéfique aux patients et aux prestataires (PDF)
Résumés de Recherche Opérationnelle 3
Publication date: 2001
Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical tables for program planning (HTML)
Series of DHS data tables by country
Publication date: 2001
Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey--Statistical tables for program planning: Burkina Faso 1993 (PDF) (HTML)
Publication date: 2001
Burkina Faso and Mali: Female genital cutting harms women's health (PDF)
FRONTIERS OR Summary (no. 10)
Publication date: 2000
Burkina Faso et Mali: L'excision compromet la santé des femmes [Female genital cutting harms women's health] (PDF)
FRONTIERES Résumés de Recherche Opérationnelle (no. 10)
Publication date: 2000
Burkina Faso: Mejorar la atención postaborto beneficia a pacientes y proveedores (PDF)
FRONTERAS Resúmenes de Investigación Operativa (número 2)
Publication date: 2000
Burkina Faso: Upgrading postabortion care benefits patients and providers (PDF)
FRONTIERS OR Summary (no. 3)
Publication date: 2000
Female genital cutting practices in Burkina Faso and Mali and their negative health outcomes (abstract) (PDF)
Jones,Heidi E.; Diop,Nafissatou J.; Askew,Ian; Kabore,Inoussa
Studies in Family Planning 30(3): 219-230
Publication date: 1999
Evaluation de la prevalence, de la typologie et des complications liees a l'excision chez les patientes frequentant les formations sanitaires du Bazega [Burkina Faso] (PDF)
Rapport Final du Projet de Recherche Operationnelle et d'Assistance Technique en Afrique II
Publication date: 1998
Burkina Faso Fast Facts
| Population (millions) | 17.5 |
|---|---|
| Total fertility rate | 5.8 |
| Infant deaths per 1,000 live births | 65 |
| Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births | 560 |
| Girls aged 20-24 married by age 18 (%) | 51.9 |
| HIV/AIDS prevalence (%) | 1.2 |
| Living below US $2 per day (%) | 81 |
Country statistics from Demographic and Health Surveys, 1987–2011; UNAIDS and UNICEF websites (accessed 10/22/2012); "World Population Data Sheet" (Population Reference Bureau, 2012) | |
Get Involved
- Make a contribution to the Population Council
- Honor a loved one with a gift in his or her name
- Sign up to receive e-mail announcements
Connect
