After 27 years of uninterrupted, semi-authoritarian rule, former president Blaise Compaore’s departure opened the door to a more competitive electoral process, and peaceful elections were held in November 2015. The new government is making efforts to address inclusive development and transitional justice challenges as well as security threats posed by violent extremist groups operating in the Sahel region.
Despite increased government funding and an effective expansion of proven health interventions, Burkina Faso still faces major challenges in the health sector.
The vast majority of Burkina Faso’s population relies on subsistence agriculture, and the country is increasingly plagued with drought, floods and climate-related pest invasions and diseases, often creating a need for humanitarian response.
Burkina Faso experiences low and variable rainfalls, land degradation, deforestation and desertification. Despite the harsh climate, Burkina Faso’s agriculture sector continues to generate roughly a third of the country’s GDP and employs 80 percent of the population.
Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in the increasingly unstable Sahel region, continues to experience high poverty rates. Burkina Faso’s population is mostly rural (71%) and population growth is high (3%).
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