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HOME / Countries / Burkina Faso

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.

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About 1 in every 2 girls in Burkina Faso will be married before age 18

UNICEF

Only 6.6% of married women ages 15-19 are using a modern form of contraception

DEMOGRAPHIC & HEALTH SURVEY 2010

59,000+ young women accessed contraceptive services through our latest project

146,000+ contraceptives, including implants and injectables, provided with our support

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...

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(re)solve

To advance progress toward the achievement of FP2020 and the SDGs and to reduce unintended pregnancies, there is an urgent need to address unmet need for modern contraception. (res)olve brings...

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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)...

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Beyond Bias

The Beyond Bias project seeks to ensure that young people have access to empathetic, nonjudgmental, quality counseling and provision of a full range of contraceptive methods regardless of their...

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Meet Our Staff

Lydia Saloucou

Senior Country Director

Lydia brings nearly 20 years of public health experience in reproductive and maternal health and organizational management in Africa....

Abdoul Baldé

Deputy Country Director

Dr. Baldé has more than 25 years of experience working on public health including family planning and reproductive health projects throughout...

Lydia Murithi

Project Director, Beyond Bias

Lydia is a social and behavioral scientist with over a decade of experience as a global health researcher and program implementer....

Bruno Ki

Technical Director

Dr. Ki joined our team in 2016 as the technical director in Burkina Faso. In his role, he manages the implementation of projects that offer high quality family planning and safe abortion...

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Together, we can ensure a path forward for all.

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