Enviro News Asia, Ouagadougou — International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Government of Burkina Faso have signed a US$59.75 million financing agreement to support a major initiative aimed at strengthening climate-resilient agriculture, improving rural infrastructure, and boosting food security across the country.
The agreement, signed on 8 May 2026, will finance the Strengthening Agricultural and Rural Infrastructure for Food Sovereignty Project (ORIAM-SA), a six-year program running from 2026 to 2031. The initiative seeks to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen food value chains, and increase incomes for rural communities affected by climate change and economic vulnerability.
The new financing package raises the project’s total budget to approximately US$157 million through combined contributions from IFAD, the Government of Burkina Faso, and project beneficiaries.
The ORIAM-SA project will be implemented in two phases across three regions of Burkina Faso. The first phase will cover Djôrô in the Southwest region and Guiriko in Hauts-Bassins, while the second phase will expand to Tannounyan in the Cascades region. Around 60,000 rural residents are expected to benefit directly from the program, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced people.
Alvaro Lario said the project demonstrates IFAD’s commitment to supporting resilient and inclusive food systems in Burkina Faso.
“ORIAM-SA reflects IFAD’s strong commitment to supporting Burkina Faso in building resilient food systems that prioritize inclusion, climate adaptation and rural transformation,” Lario stated. “By strengthening agricultural infrastructure and promoting inclusive value chains, we are helping rural communities increase productivity, generate incomes and improve food security.”
The project combines investments in climate-resilient agricultural infrastructure with capacity-building programs, social inclusion measures, and policy support. Authorities expect the initiative to sustainably increase agricultural output, generate market surpluses, and reduce poverty in targeted rural regions.
ORIAM-SA also includes an emergency contingency mechanism designed to respond rapidly to climate-related disasters or security crises affecting farming communities.
In addition to infrastructure development, the project will support rural entrepreneurship through business planning assistance, partnerships with private-sector actors, and improved access to financial services and agricultural markets.
The initiative will prioritize several strategic agricultural value chains, including rice, cassava, maize, vegetables, poultry, and pork production. IFAD noted that gender and youth inclusion remain central components of the program, with women expected to represent 50 percent of beneficiaries, while another 50 percent will come from youth-led rural enterprises and cooperatives.
The project aligns with Burkina Faso’s national food self-sufficiency agenda under the Lijeeguoli Initiative and supports IFAD’s broader Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP). It also incorporates lessons learned from previous IFAD-supported projects, particularly regarding integrated rural infrastructure, land tenure security, and inclusive rural financing.
Agriculture remains the backbone of Burkina Faso’s economy, employing more than 80 percent of the population. However, the sector continues to face significant challenges, including low productivity, limited competitiveness, weak market integration, and shortages of agricultural inputs. More than half of the rural population lives in poverty, while food insecurity affects around 12 percent of the population.
The situation has been further complicated by the growing number of internally displaced people, which has increased pressure on rural livelihoods and food systems across the country. (*)
