The United States plans to launch a training programme focused on digital skills and artificial intelligence (AI) in Burkina Faso in 2026, targeting young people as demand for technology-related skills rises across Africa, Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Digital Transition said on Tuesday.
The initiative was announced following a meeting held on Jan. 21 between Burkina Faso’s Minister of Digital Transition, Aminata Zerbo/Sabane, and the U.S. ambassador to Ouagadougou, Joann M. Lockard, according to a ministry statement.
Under the programme, training sessions will be delivered through American Spaces – U.S.-supported cultural and educational centres – in three cities: the capital Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, the country’s second-largest city, and Koudougou, a major university hub.
U.S. officials said the courses would focus on core digital tools, emerging technologies and practical applications of artificial intelligence, with the aim of strengthening employability and building local capacity in fast-growing sectors.
“The objective is to equip young people with skills that match the needs of the digital economy,” the ministry said, adding that the programme would contribute to Burkina Faso’s broader strategy to develop human capital and promote digital transformation.
Growing cooperation
The planned training initiative builds on ongoing digital cooperation between Burkina Faso and the United States. In 2025, a consortium of U.S. companies supported several activities during Burkina Faso’s Digital Week, a national event aimed at promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and technology adoption.
Officials say Washington’s involvement reflects growing international interest in supporting digital ecosystems in West Africa, where governments are seeking to leverage technology to drive economic growth, improve public services and expand job opportunities for young people.
The announcement also comes as digital skills are increasingly seen as critical to Africa’s development prospects. The World Bank estimates that about 230 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa will require some level of digital skills by 2030, underscoring the urgency of training initiatives across the region.
Youth employment challenge
In Burkina Faso, the need is particularly acute. The country has one of the youngest populations in the world, but job creation has struggled to keep pace with demographic growth.
According to World Bank data cited in an Afrobarometer report published in June 2025, around 34% of Burkinabè youth were not in employment, education or training in 2023. The youth unemployment rate was estimated at 8.2%, reflecting persistent barriers to labour market integration, especially for graduates.
Government officials say expanding access to digital skills training could help address these challenges by opening pathways into new professions, including software development, data analysis, digital marketing and AI-related services.
Strategic priorities
Burkina Faso has identified digital transformation as a pillar of its economic and social development strategy, alongside efforts to strengthen digital sovereignty and reduce dependence on imported technologies.
The Ministry of Digital Transition has in recent years launched initiatives to expand broadband access, modernise public administration and support local tech entrepreneurship, though progress has been uneven due to funding constraints and security challenges in parts of the country.
If implemented as planned, the U.S.-backed training programme could help complement these efforts by providing practical, market-oriented skills and strengthening links between education, technology and employment.
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While details on the number of beneficiaries and funding have yet to be disclosed, officials said further information would be communicated ahead of the programme’s launch in 2026.
For now, the initiative is being presented as a step toward equipping Burkina Faso’s youth with skills seen as essential for competitiveness in an increasingly digital global economy.
