Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso, meaning ‘the land of upright people’, is a landlocked country in West Africa, located in the Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert. With a population of around 24 million people, the country’s economy is largely dependent on agriculture, making communities particularly vulnerable to climate change.
Burkina Faso has experienced political turmoil including several military coups, with last coup in 2022. Growing insecurity and instability particularly in the north has resulted in major population displacements, schools closures and lack of adequate health services for the population.
Women and children are those who are most severely affected in these situations.
Nearly one in ten people in the country has been displaced due to violence and insecurity. At the same time, many lack access to humanitarian assistance as armed groups control large parts of the areas where they reside.
Despite the progress made over the past two decades, Burkina Faso faces many development challenges, particularly in the areas of health, food security, and education.
Our approach and
focus areas
Re-enrollment of out-of-school children through Speed Schools, an accelerated education for children and adolescents; improved literacy; and life skills for illiterate women.
Promoting entrepreneurship and economic empowerment through vocational training for youth and community-managed savings groups for women.
School meals support learning and attendance, while providing safety and stability in crisis‑affected settings. At our Speed Schools, meals are sourced locally and supported by school gardens to strengthen nutrition and food security.
In promoting gender equality, we ensure that women, boys and girls have access to education, employment, and leadership opportunities, empowering them to become drivers of change in their communities.
We also integrate climate-smart practices into our initiatives, helping communities adapt to climate change while protecting the environment.
Additionally, we champion inclusion by ensuring that marginalised and vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, advocating for equal access to resources, opportunities, and platforms to amplify their voices.
For the 2024–2028 strategic period, we are partnering with local organisations and other private sector partners to strengthen the resilience of poor and marginalised communities in Yadega (North), Bankui (Boucle du Mouhoun), Guiriko (Haut Bassins), Nakambé (East Center) and Oubri (Plateau Central).
Our Key
Programmes
We have two main Programme interventions:
- Inclusive Quality Education and Lifelong Learning
- Income Generation and Job Creation
Speed School for children
(8-12 years)
Speed School provides children who have never enrolled in school, or who have missed several years of schooling, with an opportunity to catch up and transition into Grade 4 of the formal public school system.
Over a nine‑month period, children complete the equivalent of the first three years of primary education, learning to read, write and count. Teaching follows the national curriculum, starts in the children’s mother tongue, and gradually transitions to French, the official language of instruction.
Speed School for adolescents
(13-14 years)
Children who do not complete primary education are unable to continue to lower secondary school, increasing the risk of child labour and early marriage. Speed School therefore also offers adolescents a second chance to complete the full primary school curriculum over a two‑year accelerated learning programme.
Adolescents who pass the primary school leaving examination are eligible to enrol directly in Grade 6 or 7, significantly improving their chances of completing their education.
Vocational Training for youth
(15-25 years)
To support the transition from school to work, and in response to high youth unemployment, we implement a one‑year vocational training programme for youth and young adults.
Participants acquire practical vocational skills that enable local employment or self‑employment, while also contributing to climate mitigation and improved food security through sustainable livelihoods, climate‑smart agriculture and improved water management.
Active Literacy for women
Active Literacy allows women to follow a two-year curriculum that enables them to acquire academic skills and discuss themes related to citizenship, early marriage, the importance of education, the health of children, and income-generating activities.
Community Managed Savings Groups (CMSG)
The Community Managed Savings Groups (CMSG) Programme strengthens financial inclusion by enabling community members, especially women and youth, to save, access credit, and invest in income-generating activities.
Country Office Burkina Faso
Strømme Foundation Burkina Faso
Ouaga 2000, Coté Est groupe scolaire le Creuset,
04 BP 682 Ouagadougou 04,
Burkina Faso
Telephone: +226 25 37 55 77/ +227 25 40 16 12
E-mail: [email protected]
Country director
Lewa Koffi Some
Our Partnerships
These partnerships amplify our impact, ensuring that resources are used effectively and efficiently to drive sustainable change. Transparency, accountability, and community ownership are at the core of everything we do.
We invite like-minded partners to join us in this transformative journey, whether through strategic collaborations, resource sharing, or volunteer efforts to build a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous future for Burkina Faso.