The Concours national d'innovation digitale, part of Le Faso Digital 2026, closed its candidatures on September 30, 2026, with 208 solutions submitted. This marks a nearly 512% increase from the 34 solutions received in 2025. The competition, which aims to promote digital innovation in Burkina Faso, has attracted a diverse range of participants, including startups, developers, students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and project leaders.
The submissions cover a wide range of sectors, including entrepreneurship, education, healthcare, agriculture, and environmental sustainability. The top categories with the most submissions are commerce, management, and entrepreneurship with 41 solutions, followed by education and training with 31 solutions, and health and well-being with 26 solutions. These categories demonstrate the focus areas of the innovators, who are seeking to address pressing issues in Burkina Faso through digital solutions.
The diversity of submissions is another notable aspect of this edition. A total of 11 solutions focus on governance, public services, and civic tech, while 11 others address energy, water, and environmental issues. The transport, mobility, and logistics sector has 10 solutions, as does the security, civil protection, and emergency sector. The finance and financial inclusion sector has 8 submissions, while culture, heritage, and national languages have 7.
The competition's organizers will now evaluate and select the best solutions based on their potential impact, accessibility, and relevance to the country's needs. The assessment will consider the three pillars of Le Faso Digital 2026: inclusion, sovereignty, and innovation. The goal is to identify solutions that can provide useful, accessible, and impactful responses to the challenges faced by Burkina Faso.
Several partners, including the Autorité de régulation des communications électroniques et des postes (ARCEP), Moov Africa Burkina Faso, the Agence nationale de promotion de l'inclusion financière (ANPFI), and the UBA bank, will award prizes to the winners of the Concours national d'innovation digitale. The prizes aim to encourage innovation and provide a platform for the selected solutions to connect with potential partners and users.
The success of Le Faso Digital 2026 is a testament to the growing interest in digital innovation in Burkina Faso. The competition has provided a unique opportunity for innovators to showcase their solutions and connect with like-minded individuals, organizations, and institutions. The next steps will see the evaluation and selection of the finalists, with the winners to be announced during Le Faso Digital 2026, which will take place from October 17 to 24, 2026.
The outcome of Le Faso Digital 2026 will be a crucial step towards achieving a more inclusive, sovereign, and innovative digital landscape in Burkina Faso. With 208 solutions submitted, the competition has demonstrated the potential for digital innovation to address pressing issues in the country. The selected solutions will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact and contribute to the development of a more digital and connected Burkina Faso.
Key points
- 208 solutions were submitted for Le Faso Digital 2026, a significant increase from 34 in 2025.
- The submissions cover a wide range of sectors, including entrepreneurship, education, healthcare, and agriculture.
- The competition's winners will be awarded prizes by several partners, including ARCEP, Moov Africa Burkina Faso, ANPFI, and UBA bank.
