Where We Work

Burkina Faso

For more than three decades, Helen Keller Intl has worked alongside government, civil society, and development partners in Burkina Faso to help communities build healthier, more resilient lives. In a country where poverty can make healthcare and good nutrition difficult to access, our work addresses the root causes of malnutrition and child mortality, controls and eliminates neglected tropical diseases, and empowers women to build agency and financial stability—reaching all community members regardless of gender, age, race, religion, or ethnicity.

More than 40% of people live below the poverty line, making access to nutritious food a challenge.

Vitamin A deficiency affects more than 50% of children under the age of 5, weakening their immune systems, stunting their growth, and, in severe cases, causing blindness.

Schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, and onchocerciasis are all endemic in Burkina Faso.

Together, we help communities create lasting change by:

Training women to develop and maintain their own nutrient-rich gardens, champion nutrition, and develop entrepreneurial skills.

Supporting the Ministry of Health in delivering biannual vitamin A supplementation campaigns for children under the age of 5, including deworming and malnutrition screening.

Partnering with the Ministry of Health to ensure people receive essential medication to prevent and treat neglected tropical diseases with a goal of elimination by 2030.

Last year, we helped millions build lasting change

Supported more than 2,000 households in Ziro Province with training on growing micronutrient-rich crops, climate-smart and sustainable agriculture, and nutrition best practices.

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Reached more than 1.6 million children with a full biannual dose of vitamin A.

Reached more than 300,000 people with treatment for at least one neglected tropical disease.

Supported more than 5,000 households in Sissili Province with training on improved technologies for production, storage, and processing of orange fleshed sweet potatoes, as well as counseling on nutrition best practices.

4.8 million children under 5 in Burkina Faso were reached last year.

Distributed more than 30 million treatments to protect children and family members through mass drug administration campaigns.

Number of staff: 51

Office opened: 1999

People reached annually: 3.7M

Operating budget: $3.9M

Latest stories and headlines from Burkina Faso

Our work in Burkina Faso is supported by:

Gates Foundation, GiveWell, Light Foundation, Project Resource Optimization (PRO)