• New engineering school project aims to train high-level local talent

• Initiative relies on diaspora to support teaching, research, and innovation

• Move comes amid high youth unemployment and widespread informal work

Burkina Faso’s private sector plans to launch a diaspora-backed engineering school to address a shortage of technical professionals

On April 1, Issa Compaoré, founder of the Higher Institute of Technology (IST) and CEO of Umanis Group, presented the project to Moumouni Zoungrana, minister in charge of secondary education and technical and vocational training.

The initiative includes both an engineering school and preparatory classes. According to the ministry’s communications department, the first students are expected to enroll as early as the next academic year.

A model built on diaspora expertise

The project is structured around two main pillars. The first is delivering local training aligned with international standards. The second is mobilizing the Burkinabe diaspora.

Compaoré said the goal is to “train high-level talent locally, in line with international standards,” while also leveraging diaspora expertise to strengthen teaching, research, and innovation. The project will rely on a network of Burkinabe professionals based abroad to help address the shortage of specialized instructors in the country.

Minister Zoungrana welcomed the initiative and pledged government support, noting that it aligns with national priorities to improve education quality. The objective is to ensure graduates can integrate sustainably into Burkina Faso’s economy.

A labor market under strain

The project comes at a time of mounting pressure on the labor market. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Demography (INSD), the unemployment rate stood at 7.2% in September 2025.

Out of an estimated 11.2 million people of working age—representing 53.4% of the total population—the labor force participation rate is about 64.4%. Among those employed, 95.4% work in the informal sector, while only 4.6% hold formal jobs.

Youth are particularly affected. Unemployment reaches 14.4% among those aged 16 to 24 and 10.6% among those aged 16 to 35. Rates are higher in urban areas, including 11.4% in Ouagadougou and 9.1% in Bobo-Dioulasso.

The situation is further complicated by brain drain and a persistent mismatch between education and labor market needs. Many graduates are forced into jobs below their qualifications. According to INSD data, individuals with higher education are 1.7 times more likely to be underemployed.

This reflects long delays in entering the workforce—averaging 4.5 years—and a gap between training programs and economic demand. In addition, 13.8% of young people aged 15 to 24 are neither in employment, education, nor training (NEET).

In this context, the proposed engineering school seeks to offer a private-sector response to a national challenge. The project must still complete accreditation procedures before enrolling its first students.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou