Key Takeaways
- IFAD and the Government of Burkina Faso have signed a US$59.75 million loan agreement to finance ORIAM-SA, a six-year project (2026–2031) targeting agricultural resilience and food security.
- The total project cost reaches US$157 million through combined contributions from IFAD, the Government of Burkina Faso, and project participants.
- ORIAM-SA will target 60,000 rural people across three regions — Djôrô, Guiriko, and Tannounyan — with 50% women participants and 50% from youth-led rural enterprises and cooperatives.
- The project will focus on six value chains: rice, cassava, maize, vegetables, poultry, and pork, alongside climate-resilient infrastructure and private sector partnerships.
- Agriculture employs more than 80% of Burkina Faso's population, yet over half of the rural population lives in poverty and food insecurity affects approximately 12% of the total population.
IFAD & The Government of Burkina Faso Ink Loan Agreement
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Burkina Faso have signed a US$59.75 million loan agreement to finance the Strengthening Agricultural and Rural Infrastructure for Food Sovereignty Project, known as ORIAM-SA. The total cost of the six-year initiative reaches US$157 million when combined with contributions from the government and project participants, making it one of the largest coordinated agricultural investments in the country in recent years.
What ORIAM-SA Will Do
Running from 2026 to 2031, the project will invest in sustainable agricultural and market infrastructure across two phases. The first phase covers the regions of Djôrô in the Southwest and Guiriko in Hauts-Bassins, with the second phase extending to Tannounyan in the Cascades. ORIAM-SA targets 60,000 rural people, with a focus on women, youth, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons.
The project will concentrate on six value chains — rice, cassava, maize, vegetables, poultry, and pork — and includes a contingency component to enable rapid response to climate or security-related shocks. At least 50% of participants are to be women, while a further 50% are to come from youth-led rural microenterprises and cooperatives.
“ORIAM-SA reflects IFAD's strong commitment to supporting Burkina Faso in building resilient food systems that prioritize inclusion, climate adaptation and rural transformation. By strengthening agricultural infrastructure and promoting inclusive value chains, we are helping rural communities increase productivity, generate incomes and improve food security,” said Alvaro Lario, President of IFAD.
The Challenge Facing Burkina Faso's Agricultural Sector
Agriculture accounts for more than 80% of employment in Burkina Faso, yet the sector is held back by low productivity, limited market integration, and insufficient access to inputs. Over half of the rural population lives in poverty, and food insecurity affects approximately 12% of the total population, with ongoing displacement adding further strain to rural livelihoods.
IFAD's Strategic Alignment
ORIAM-SA aligns with Burkina Faso's national food self-sufficiency agenda, including the Lijeeguoli Initiative, and with IFAD's Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) for the country. The project builds on previous IFAD-supported programmes in Burkina Faso, incorporating lessons around integrated infrastructure development, land tenure security, and inclusive rural finance. Through business planning support and private sector partnerships, ORIAM-SA also aims to improve market access and financial services for rural producers across the targeted regions.
