The African Development Bank (AfDB) has initiated a workshop in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from November 9 to 13, 2026, to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders involved in projects it finances. The workshop focuses on the bank's revised Integrated Safeguard System (ISS), which aims to improve the environmental and social sustainability of projects. The ISS, which came into effect on May 31, 2024, seeks to identify, prevent, and manage risks associated with projects.
The AfDB's country representative, Daniel Ndoye, emphasized the importance of the workshop in enhancing the quality and durability of investments. He noted that the bank's ambition extends beyond financing infrastructure and developing production capacities to ensuring that investments generate sustainable benefits while preserving the environment and protecting populations. The workshop aims to equip stakeholders with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement and monitor projects that meet the bank's environmental and social standards.
The workshop will cover various aspects of the ISS, including the preparation and monitoring of environmental and social impact assessments, relocation action plans, and stakeholder participation mechanisms. Participants will also learn about the respective responsibilities of the AfDB and borrowers, as well as the tools for evaluating, managing, and monitoring project-related risks. The training is organized by the AfDB's Department of Environmental and Social Safeguards and Compliance.
Burkina Faso is home to several projects financed by the AfDB in strategic sectors such as agriculture, energy, transportation, water, and sanitation, as well as social development. However, the implementation of these projects poses challenges that require particular attention, including land acquisition, involuntary resettlement, workplace health and safety, protection of vulnerable groups, and prevention of gender-based violence.
Daniel Ndoye stressed that mastering these risks is essential to the success of AfDB interventions, particularly in a context marked by security, climate, and social challenges. He encouraged project stakeholders to fully integrate environmental and social requirements at all stages of project implementation. The workshop also provides an opportunity for project stakeholders to exchange directly with the AfDB team on challenges encountered in the field and identify solutions adapted to the realities of different interventions.
Vieux Abdoul Soulama, Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, representing the minister, praised the quality of the partnership between Burkina Faso and the AfDB. He noted that the performance of public investments should not be evaluated solely based on mobilized financing or realized infrastructure but also on their ability to produce sustainable results while respecting the environment and concerned populations.
The participants are expected to acquire knowledge and skills that will enable them to effectively implement and monitor projects that meet the AfDB's environmental and social standards. The workshop is expected to contribute to the successful implementation of projects financed by the AfDB in Burkina Faso, ensuring that they generate sustainable benefits for the country's population while preserving the environment.
Key points
- The African Development Bank is strengthening environmental and social project requirements in Burkina Faso through a workshop in Ouagadougou.
