ADF Approves €70.34m Loan to Boost Burkina Faso’s Transport and Connectivity

The Board of Directors endorsed the financing on 10 December 2025, marking another major step in strengthening the country’s connectivity, territorial cohesion and sub-regional integration.

The African Development Fund (ADF), the concessional lending arm of the African Development Bank Group, has approved a €70.34 million loan to Burkina Faso to support its Transport Sector Support Project. The Board of Directors endorsed the financing on 10 December 2025, marking another major step in strengthening the country’s connectivity, territorial cohesion and sub-regional integration.

This project forms part of wider efforts to improve mobility and access in a landlocked nation heavily dependent on road transport for trade, emergency response, and access to social services.

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Part of a Multilateral Financing Effort

The ADF loan complements funding from several international partners, including:

• World Bank

• Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)

• Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

• Government of Burkina Faso

The combined investment reflects broad international commitment to supporting Burkina Faso’s stability, development and long-term connectivity in the Sahel region.

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What the Financing Will Support

The loan targets several priority interventions to strengthen road asset management and improve service delivery across critical regions.

1. Establishment of Five Emergency Road Maintenance Units

The ADF will help finance equipment and machinery for rapid-response teams in:

• Ouahigouya

• Ziniaré

• Kaya

• Dori

• Fada N’Gourma

These units will be essential for:

• Quick repairs after floods, deterioration or security-related disruptions

• Ensuring roads remain accessible for humanitarian and economic activities

2. Road Maintenance Works Through 2030

Funding will cover routine and emergency maintenance during the project implementation period, helping preserve existing infrastructure and reduce long-term rehabilitation costs.

3. Construction and Rehabilitation of Operational Facilities

The project will upgrade infrastructure necessary for effective maintenance work, including:

• Offices

• Garages

• Workshops equipped with repair tools and materials

This will create a structured maintenance ecosystem across the targeted regions.

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Strengthening Territorial Access and Community Resilience

The project aims to contribute to:

• Opening up remote areas with high agricultural and pastoral potential

• Improving mobility for rural populations

• Facilitating market access and social service delivery

• Enhancing resilience against climate shocks and insecurity

• Supporting cultural and economic development in diverse regions

Reliable road networks are critical in Burkina Faso, where communities often struggle with limited access to hospitals, schools, and markets — especially during conflict or extreme weather events.

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Statements from African Development Bank Leadership

Mike Salawou, AfDB Director of Infrastructure and Urban Development

“The transport sector in Burkina Faso ranks first in the African Development Bank Group's public investment portfolio. By supporting this project, the African Development Fund strengthens the Bank’s leadership in transport infrastructure development. The initiative aligns with our Sahel strategy to enhance connectivity, build peace and accelerate development.”

Lamin Barrow, AfDB Director General for West Africa

“The project is part of a broader effort to improve internal and external connectivity, create jobs and expand access to essential social services. It aims to reinforce resilience and support structural economic transformation, consistent with the Bank’s Interim Country Strategy Paper for 2022–2026.”

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A Long-Term Investment in Stability and Development

Scheduled to run through 2030, the project is not only a transport intervention but a broader resilience-building effort for vulnerable populations. By maintaining critical infrastructure and improving emergency response capacity, Burkina Faso will be better positioned to support livelihoods, safeguard commerce, and promote long-term stability in an increasingly fragile regional context.