Burkina Faso receives major health system boost with World Bank funding
Washington, D.C. — The World Bank has approved a transformative financial package to enhance Burkina Faso’s healthcare system. The initiative includes a €142 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) and a $17 million grant from the Global Financing Facility (GFF). These funds will support the Project for Strengthening Health System Performance and Resilience (PRPRSS), a nationwide effort designed to uplift healthcare access and quality for vulnerable populations.
Targeting the most vulnerable: adolescents, women, and young children
The PRPRSS project places a strong emphasis on improving health outcomes for adolescents, women, and children under five. Its core objectives include enhancing disease surveillance, expanding access to essential health and nutrition services, and ensuring equitable delivery across all regions. Special attention will be given to internally displaced persons and underserved communities, where healthcare access remains critically limited.
Strengthening health resilience and social inclusion
Hamoud Abdel Wedoud Kamil, the World Bank’s Resident Representative in Burkina Faso, emphasized the project’s role in advancing human development and social inclusion. “Investing in resilient health systems is a cornerstone of sustainable progress,” he stated. “This initiative complements the Human Capital Protection Project, a recently approved $100.4 million program aimed at improving access to essential social services.”
Aligned with the World Bank’s West and Central Africa regional strategy, the PRPRSS project supports efforts to reinforce institutions responsible for delivering foundational social services, fostering trust in public systems and strengthening the social contract.
Ensuring healthcare access in fragile zones
Luc Laviolette, Head of the GFF Secretariat, highlighted the project’s strategic importance. “Ensuring women, adolescents, and children have access to quality healthcare is one of the most impactful investments a government can make,” he noted. “The GFF is committed to partnering with Burkina Faso to build a robust and resilient health system, particularly in areas facing the greatest challenges.”
Moussa Dieng, the World Bank’s Health Portfolio Manager, underscored the project’s dual focus on emergency preparedness and sustainable reform. “This timely initiative will bolster Burkina Faso’s capacity to respond to health emergencies while improving the quality and utilization of health and nutrition services,” he explained. “It also aligns with ongoing reforms led by the Ministry of Health to enhance governance, equity, and sustainable financing in the health sector.”