Burkina Faso is highly exposed to the harmful effects of climate variability because of its geographical location in Africa. Recognizing these challenges, the Government of Burkina Faso adopted a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) in 2015, with the vision that “Burkina Faso will manage its economic and social development more effectively through the implementation of planning mechanisms and measures that take into account resilience and adaptation to climate change by 2050”. In addition to this political commitment by the government, the support of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), with the backing of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), allow the beginning of a program in 2022 for a period of 36 months.​

Thus, the mainstream adaptation into subnational planning, the strengthening of institutional frameworks, and the development of a financing strategy and project concept notes for the implementation of Burkina Faso’s NAP aim to support the country in the field of climate adaptation. In fact, governance and institutional coordination, particularly at the subnational level, are taken into account in the approach adopted in this program.

The goal of the project is to build Burkina Faso’s climate resilience by mainstreaming adaptation into subnational planning, strengthening institutional frameworks, and developing financing strategy and concept notes to access climate finance.

Its objectives are to reduce vulnerability of natural, social and economic systems to climate change. This will be accomplished through 1.) ensuring greater adaptability and resilience and 2.) facilitating the integration of climate change adaptation in a coherent manner into national development strategies, policies and programs within relevant sectors and at different levels.

Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa, is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its geographical location in the center of the semi-arid Sudano-Sahelian zone of West Africa. Moreover, with limited natural resources and a highly changing climate, climate change exacerbates poverty and food insecurity in a country with 46% of its population already living below the poverty line. Burkina Faso is also prone to chronic droughts, flash floods, windstorms, and epidemics. ​ There are also security challenges in some parts of the country.

These threats negatively affect the country’s development efforts and contribute to exacerbating desertification, land degradation, food insecurity, and high levels of poverty. Vulnerability to these risks is heightened by the country’s heavy dependence on the raid-fed subsistence agricultural sector. Yet these climate challenges are recognized by the Government of Burkina Faso through policies, strategies, plans and actions, notably the National Action Program for Adaptation to Climate Change in 2007 and Burkina Faso’s National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change that was adopted 2015. ​

​This Plan comprises sectoral adaptation plans covering agriculture, livestock, water, forests and natural ecosystems, energy, infrastructure and housing, health, among others. Ultimately, it will contribute to reducing the vulnerability of natural, social, and economic systems to climate change.