AGP Executive Report

Public Health: Ghana began a five-day yellow fever vaccination campaign in three Upper West districts near Burkina Faso after confirmed cases and reports of unexplained deaths. Technology for Development: The UN Technology Bank is calling for more support to turn national technology priorities into practical projects; Burkina Faso is among four countries with needs assessments under way. Climate Resilience: A research partnership involving Burkina Faso’s Naturama is studying nature-based ways to help communities adapt to heat, drought and flooding, including risks linked to releases from Bagré Dam. Agricultural Innovation: An internally displaced person in Burkina Faso has created a soil-less garden to grow vegetables, showing how practical techniques can support food production in difficult conditions. Mining: West African Resources reported 127,950 ounces of gold from its Burkina Faso mines in the September quarter and has started work on an underground extension at Sanbrado.

African Tech Finance: Proposed OPay and MNT-Halan listings are testing investor appetite for African fintech, as fewer start-ups secure funding. Technology for Burkina Faso: The UN Technology Bank says Burkina Faso is among four countries undertaking technology-needs assessments, with support covering digital transformation, cybersecurity and AI for climate-smart agriculture. Climate Research: Burkina Faso’s Naturama is partnering with Ghanaian and international researchers to develop community-led responses to climate risks facing wetlands. Regional Infrastructure: A new Algeria–Niger fiber link and West Africa’s power-pool synchronisation trial signal steps toward stronger cross-border digital and electricity connections. Local Processing: Burkina Faso’s announced gold export refinery points to efforts to add value to minerals at home.

Farm Technology: An internally displaced person in Burkina Faso has built a soil-less garden to grow vegetables, an example of practical farming innovation highlighted at ECHO’s sustainable agriculture symposium. Climate Research: A regional study involving Burkina Faso’s Naturama is examining how nature-based solutions and local knowledge can help wetland communities adapt to heat, drought and flooding. Technology Planning: Burkina Faso is among four countries completing a UN Technology Bank assessment to identify technologies suited to national development needs, including digital transformation and climate-smart agriculture. Sahel Connectivity: A new Algeria–Niger fiber link promises a digital corridor for the region, though questions remain about its reach and costs.

Climate Research: Scientists are seeking lasting solutions to floods linked to releases from Burkina Faso’s Bagré Dam, while a separate climate-resilience project involving Burkina NGO Naturama is working with wetland communities in northern Ghana. Technology Planning: Burkina Faso is among four countries completing UN Technology Bank assessments to identify technology needs and guide investment. Digital Policy: The country’s push to build a digital state faces criticism over priorities, with coverage questioning whether it can advance while security and schooling remain strained. Regional Connectivity: A new Algeria–Niger fibre link is live, raising hopes for a digital corridor across the Sahel and questions about who will benefit.

Climate Research: Scientists, including Burkina Faso’s Naturama, are combining research and community knowledge to find lasting ways to reduce flooding downstream of Bagré Dam. Their nature-based proposals now need government action. Technology Policy: The UN Technology Bank says Burkina Faso is among four countries completing technology-needs assessments, which can guide investment in areas including digitalisation, cybersecurity and AI for climate-smart farming. Mining: West African Resources reported 127,950 ounces of gold from its Burkina Faso mines in the September quarter and says it remains on track to meet annual production guidance. Digital Services: Burkina Faso’s push to build a digital state is drawing criticism over security and schooling concerns.

Climate Research: Scientists are combining local knowledge and nature-based solutions to address annual flooding downstream of Burkina Faso’s Bagré Dam. Burkina Faso’s Naturama is also part of a research project warning that wetlands face worsening heat, floods and erratic rainfall. Technology Policy: Burkina Faso is among four countries completing technology-needs assessments with the UN Technology Bank, which is urging more support to turn priorities into practical projects, including digitalisation and AI for climate-smart agriculture. Mining Technology: West African Resources produced a record 127,950 ounces of gold from its Sanbrado and Kiaka mines in Burkina Faso in the September quarter and has begun development of an underground extension at Sanbrado. Digital Services: Burkina Faso’s push to build a digital state is drawing criticism over whether technology investment is keeping pace with urgent needs in security and education.

Technology Capacity: The UN Technology Bank is calling for more support to turn technology plans into practical projects. Burkina Faso is among four countries completing a Technology Needs Assessment, as the bank expands work in AI policy, cybersecurity and digital transformation. Regional Connectivity: Algeria and Niger have activated a trans-Saharan fibre link, part of a backbone planned to reach Mali and other Sahel countries. The project promises better access to international bandwidth, but protecting the infrastructure will be a challenge. Science and Sovereignty: Burkina Faso’s shutdown of a Gates-funded mosquito experiment has stirred debate over research and national control. Digital State: Coverage of Burkina Faso’s digital push raises concerns that technology plans may be advancing without enough attention to security and schooling.

Mining Technology: West African Resources produced a record 127,950 ounces of gold at its Burkina Faso mines in the September quarter. The government also approved an underground extension at Sanbrado, with development now underway. Sahel Connectivity: Algeria and Niger have activated a cross-border fibre link, a step toward a wider regional digital corridor. A separate Vertiv-Cybastion partnership names Burkina Faso among six markets targeted for digital infrastructure projects. Digital Policy: Burkina Faso’s digital-state drive faces criticism that security and schooling are being neglected. Research Sovereignty: Burkina Faso’s shutdown of a Gates-funded mosquito experiment has renewed debate over national control of scientific research.

Sahel Connectivity: Algeria and Niger have activated a cross-border fibre link, opening a new route to international bandwidth. The wider backbone is intended to reach other Sahel countries, though security and infrastructure protection remain challenges. Digital Infrastructure: Vertiv and Cybastion are exploring projects in Burkina Faso and five other African markets, aiming to support data centres and other critical digital systems. Digital Access: Burkina Faso’s push to move public services online faces a stark gap: internet access and 4G coverage remain limited, raising concerns that digital services may leave much of the population behind. Health Research: A new study finds antimalarial drugs can persist in mosquitoes after blood meals, prompting further research into possible effects on malaria parasites.

Sahel Connectivity: Algeria and Niger have switched on a cross-border fibre link, improving access to international bandwidth and potentially reducing digital dependence. Protecting the cable in a conflict-affected region remains a challenge. Digital Infrastructure: Vertiv and Cybastion plan to work on government-led digital projects in Burkina Faso and five other African markets, combining data-centre expertise with local partnerships. Digital Access: Critics say Burkina Faso’s online public services are out of reach for many: internet access remains limited, 4G is concentrated in cities, and digital health-insurance registration has reached only a small share of the population. Research Sovereignty: Burkina Faso’s shutdown of a Gates-funded mosquito experiment has renewed debate over scientific research, public consent and national control of health studies.

Digital Access: Burkina Faso’s push to put public services online is drawing criticism: internet penetration remains below 20%, 4G is concentrated in cities, and digital health-insurance registration reaches only about 1.3% of the population. Sahel Connectivity: Algeria and Niger have launched a trans-Saharan fiber link, promising better access to international bandwidth and less digital dependence, though insecurity threatens the infrastructure. Digital Infrastructure: Vertiv and Cybastion plan to pursue technology projects across Northwest Africa, including Burkina Faso, combining data-centre expertise with experience in government digital programmes. Health Research: A study involving researchers in Burkina Faso found that an antimalarial drug can persist in mosquitoes after a blood meal; scientists are now investigating whether this affects malaria parasites or drug resistance. Science and Sovereignty: Burkina Faso’s shutdown of a Gates-funded mosquito experiment has reignited debate over research oversight and national control of science.

Sahel Connectivity: Algeria and Niger have switched on a trans-Saharan fibre link at Assamaka, opening a route to international bandwidth and potential operator revenue. Extending the network could strengthen regional connections, but insecurity threatens the infrastructure. Digital Infrastructure: Vertiv and Cybastion plan to pursue major digital projects in Burkina Faso and five other African markets, combining data-centre expertise with experience in government-led programmes. Digital Access: Burkina Faso’s online public services face a reach problem: internet access remains limited, 4G coverage is concentrated in cities, and online health-insurance registration reportedly reaches just 1.3% of the population. Malaria Research: A Yale-led team working in Burkina Faso found that a long-acting antimalarial can persist in mosquitoes after a blood meal. Researchers are now investigating whether this exposure affects malaria parasites or drug resistance. Science and Sovereignty: Burkina Faso’s shutdown of a Gates-funded mosquito experiment has reignited debate over research, public consent and national control of science.

Digital Infrastructure: Vertiv and Cybastion plan to explore data-centre and other digital infrastructure projects in Burkina Faso and five other African markets, pairing Vertiv’s technical expertise with Cybastion’s government contacts. Digital Public Services: Burkina Faso’s online government services are drawing criticism over limited access: internet penetration is reported at just over 20%, while digital health-insurance registration reaches about 1.3% of the population. Malaria Research: A Yale-led study, with research underway in Burkina Faso, found that an antimalarial drug can circulate inside mosquitoes for days. Scientists are now investigating whether this exposure affects malaria parasites or drug resistance. Regional Connectivity: Algeria and Niger have inaugurated a cross-border fibre-optic link, part of a wider backbone envisioned to connect several Sahel countries. Its security and broader regional impact remain open questions.

Mining Technology: Modular, containerised emulsion plants could give remote West African mines a safer, more reliable on-site explosives supply while cutting hazardous transport. Regional Connectivity: Algeria and Niger have switched on a trans-Saharan fibre link, opening access to international bandwidth and a planned route connecting several Sahel countries; security remains a challenge. Digital Infrastructure: Vertiv and Cybastion plan to pursue data-centre and other digital infrastructure projects in Burkina Faso and five nearby markets. Digital Access: Burkina Faso’s online public services face a stark reach gap: internet use remains below 20%, while digital health-insurance enrolment is reported at just 1.3%. Science and Health: Researchers working in Burkina Faso are studying whether antimalarial drugs taken up by mosquitoes affect malaria parasites or drug resistance. Research Capacity: A new report on West Africa’s STEM crisis points to shortages of investment, teachers and laboratories, while Burkina Faso’s shutdown of a foreign-funded mosquito project has renewed debate over research sovereignty.

Digital Governance in Burkina Faso: Ouagadougou’s “Allée des services au peuple” spotlights e-criminal records, e-nationality certificates and digital Universal Health Insurance, but critics say low internet access and limited 4G coverage mean most people can’t actually use these services. Public Health Research: A Yale study reports that long-acting antimalarial drugs can be absorbed by mosquitoes after blood meals, potentially exposing malaria parasites during development—work underway in Burkina Faso. Digital Infrastructure Deal: Vertiv and Cybastion signed an MoU to accelerate critical digital infrastructure across Northwest Africa, explicitly including Burkina Faso, by pairing data-centre expertise with government digital-transformation networks. Science Sovereignty: Burkina Faso shut down a Gates-funded genetically modified mosquito program after a raid on the IRSS research institute, framing the move as national sovereignty over foreign-funded science. Regional Health Gains: The Ouagadougou Partnership marks 15 years since launching in Burkina Faso, citing progress in family planning and SRHR across nine West African countries. Finance Policy in UEMOA: BCEAO made PI-SPI mandatory from November 2 and revised fees, aiming to improve service quality and enable new uses of instant payments across UEMOA.

Climate Finance Gap: Africa needs about US$310–365B a year for climate adaptation by 2035, but international public adaptation finance was only US$26B in 2023—so households increasingly lean on remittances when droughts and floods hit. Digital Governance Backlash (Burkina Faso): Ouagadougou’s “digital state” push—online criminal records, e-nationality certificates, and AMU health insurance digitisation—faces criticism as internet and 4G access remain limited, with online AMU uptake reported around 1.3%. Digital Infrastructure Deal: Vertiv signed an MoU with Cybastion to accelerate critical digital infrastructure across Northwest Africa, including Burkina Faso, aiming to plug power/cooling solutions into broader national digitalisation programmes. Health Research in Focus: A study involving Burkina Faso researchers finds long-acting antimalarials can be absorbed into mosquitoes’ bodies and persist, potentially exposing malaria parasites and raising questions about drug resistance. Science Sovereignty: Burkina Faso shut down a Gates-funded Target Malaria genetically modified mosquito programme, citing national interests after police raids on the research institute. Regional Tech & Finance: BCEAO makes PI-SPI mandatory for interoperable electronic money transactions across UEMOA from Nov 2 and revises fees, aiming to improve service quality and enable new uses. STEM Pipeline Worry: West Africa faces declining interest in science and shortages of teachers and labs, threatening future engineering and research capacity.