Changing Lives in Burkina Faso

In Burkina Faso, 1 in every 2 girls will be married before turning 18. Millions lack the contraceptive services they need. How can Burkinabè girls and women protect their futures if they can’t exercise their sexual and reproductive rights?

Pathfinder is making sure they can do both. We’re working with local governments, communities, and health systems in Burkina Faso to improve access to contraception, promote healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies, and save the lives of young mothers and their newborns. See what it looks like when people can choose their own paths forward.

What We Do in Burkina Faso

Strengthen health centers and community health workers so more people in more places have access to the contraceptive information and services they need

Make sure short-term, long-acting, permanent, and emergency contraception are always available, so people of all ages can choose the method that’s best for them

Train health workers to deliver services to young people without judgement or bias, so first-time parents can get the services they need and the quality of care they deserve

Engage community members with significant influence, including religious leaders and mothers-in-law, to create an environment that supports contraception

Make sure women can access safe, legal abortion services, including lifesaving postabortion care, so they can protect their health

Discover Our Projects

Beyond Bias

Of the estimated 38 million sexually active adolescents in developing regions who don’t want a child in the next two years, 23 million have an unmet need for contraception. We’re generating...

West Africa Adolescent & Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health Program

In 2012, our Board of Directors asked, what is an urgent need that no one is addressing? Pathfinder responded by launching one of the first programs targeting young married women and their partners...

Evidence to Action

In more than 10 countries around the world, our Evidence to Action Project strengthened family planning and reproductive health services in sub-Saharan Africa by building evidence and expanding...

Yam Yankre “My Choice”

In the last two years, contraception prevalence in Burkina Faso has increased—but only to 22%. Our work is bringing modern contraception to the women who need it most—young women (ages 15-24)...

HCD Part 3: Solutions

The Beyond Bias project seeks to ensure that young people between 15 and 24 years of age have access to empathetic, non-judgmental, quality counseling and provision of a full range of contraceptive...

HCD Part 2: Application

Human-Centered Design Part 1: Executive Summary

Meet Our Staff

Courage, Commitment, and Community

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Other Ways to Give to Pathfinder

Changing Lives in Burkina Faso

What We Do in Burkina Faso

Discover Our Projects

Beyond Bias

West Africa Adolescent & Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health Program

Evidence to Action

Yam Yankre “My Choice”

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HCD Part 3: Solutions

HCD Part 2: Application

Human-Centered Design Part 1: Executive Summary

Meet Our Staff

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Together, we can ensure a path forward for all.