The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has pledged to mobilize around 250 million US dollars – over 137 billion FCFA – for Burkina Faso for the period 2024-2026. This massive commitment, announced in September 2025 in Ouagadougou, is a strong signal in the run-up to FONAFIS 2026.
Structuring financing for the healthcare sector
The announcement was made on September 8, 2025 at a meeting between Maria Kirova, Global Fund Country Manager, and Dr Aboubakar Nacanabo, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Economy and Finance. This financial package will be used to step up the fight against the three major pandemics – AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria – while helping to modernize the country’s health infrastructure.
Malaria remains a major challenge in Burkina Faso, accounting for 43% of consultations and causing over 16,000 deaths by 2023, according to the WHO. Terrorist attacks have also put 413 health facilities out of action, depriving 3.8 million people of access to healthcare.
A national effort supported by ambitious reforms
Burkina Faso currently devotes 12% of its national budget to health and almost 40% to social investment. However, more than a quarter of the health sector’s funding (26.4% annual average) still depends on external funds, and households pay 34% of medical costs – well above the maximum standard of 20% recommended by the WHO.
It was against this backdrop that the government launched the Régime d’Assurance Maladie Universelle (RAMU), whose benefits began on February1, 2026. Initial feedback from the field has been encouraging, with patients reporting that 70% of their medical expenses are covered by the scheme.
A central challenge for FONAFIS 2026
The mobilization of domestic resources and the alignment of international aid with national financing mechanisms are at the heart of the FONAFIS 2026 agenda. The National Forum on Health Financing, scheduled for March 25-27, 2026 in Ouagadougou, will bring together over 400 participants – ministers, experts, technical and financial partners – around a common goal: to build an efficient and equitable health financing system.
The Global Fund’s commitment illustrates the confidence of international partners in Burkina Faso’s reform dynamic. As Maria Kirova stressed, it is essential to“align this aid with national financing mechanisms and strengthen domestic resources for the health sector”.
Key figures
- 250 M USD – Global Fund commitment (2024-2026)
- 137 billion FCFA – Equivalent in CFA francs
- 12% – Share of national budget devoted to health
- 26.4% – Share of external healthcare funding
- 413 – Health structures out of service due to insecurity
- 3.8 M – People denied access to healthcare
Outlook: towards health sovereignty
FONAFIS 2026 aims to produce an Operational Roadmap and a Health Compact involving all stakeholders. The 27 technical sessions will address key themes: mobilizing domestic resources, reducing fragmentation, strategic purchasing of services, equity in access to care and local pharmaceutical production.
The Global Fund’s support, combined with ongoing reforms such as the UHIP and the Presidential Initiative for Health launched in 2024, is outlining the contours of genuine health sovereignty – a central objective of the forum and an ambition shared by Burkina Faso and its partners.