With 80 percent of its population without electricity, Burkina Faso is lagging behind, which is hampering its economic and social development. For the low-income population, whose GDP per capita stands at $893 in 2021, access to energy remains too expensive. Unemployment among young people and women is high. Relying heavily on the agricultural sector, the country is challenged by the effects of climate change and persistent political instability.

Access to clean, safe and affordable energy is a prerequisite for development. Burkina Faso is therefore aiming for a national electrification rate of at least 50 percent in 2025-2030. This can be achieved by taking advantage of the abundant solar resources throughout the country, promoting the creation of green jobs along the way.

To support the priorities of Burkina Faso, UNCDF as part of the CE4PR project, with financial support from Luxembourg ( € 3.2 million), set up the Renewable Energy Fund for Resilience in Burkina Faso at the end of 2019 (FERR-BF); an innovative program, which will end in December 2023. Its objective: to support the development of energy service companies (ESCOs) in Burkina Faso and more broadly the ecosystem of the renewable energy sector, with a view to creating income-generating activities for the most vulnerable populations, specifically women, young people, displaced people, small farmers, micro-entrepreneurs.

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