The government’s National Development Plan centres on four pillars designed to accelerate economic diversification, boost domestic processing of raw materials, and expand infrastructure needed for industrialisation.
Officials argue the initiative could strengthen economic resilience while reducing exposure to external shocks.
However, economists warn that the plan’s financial scope may be overly ambitious for a country grappling with security challenges and limited fiscal resources.
Speaking to Channel Africa, former United Nations economist Bernard Ouandji said the proposed funding envelope should be reconsidered.
“The magnitude should be slashed by half,” he said, noting that implementation of the previous 2021–2025 plan fell significantly short of expectations.
According to Ouandji, the country may lack the “absorptive capacity to manage a $60 billion investment.”
Domestic funding targets raise doubts over plan’s financial viability
Despite the concerns, he acknowledged progress in the mining sector, particularly in gold production. Official output is now estimated at about 100 tonnes annually, a significant increase compared with figures recorded five years ago.
“Gold is playing a very important role,” he said, suggesting mining revenues will likely become the backbone of financing for the new strategy.
Yet the heavy emphasis on extractive industries could limit broader industrial growth. Ouandji noted that the current blueprint appears to prioritise mining and infrastructure while offering relatively few initiatives to develop a manufacturing base capable of processing local materials.
The country has recently improved its fiscal standing, including the repayment of roughly $130 million in debt. But financing the wider programme remains uncertain. The plan expects about 68 per cent of funding to come from domestic resources, with roughly 30 per cent from external sources.
Ouandji warned that this internal financing target may represent the biggest vulnerability. Burkina Faso has been running deficits close to 3 per cent of gross domestic product, raising doubts about whether domestic markets can supply the required capital.
External funding could still play a role, particularly following recent engagement with the International Monetary Fund and partners such as the United States.
Even so, Ouandji offered cautious praise for the country’s leadership, describing them as proactive and increasingly popular among younger Africans, though he stressed that the success of the development vision will depend largely on realistic financing and improved security conditions.
