(Ecofin Agency) - The Burkina Faso government has unveiled a series of significant projects designed to upgrade the living standards of its population. The announcement detailed the launch of the Urban Mobility and Secondary Cities Development Project (PMDUVS), which is backed by the World Bank and is endowed with a budget of CFA124 billion (about $203 million). This initiative represents a strategic effort to foster urban development and mobility across the country.

The five-year project is designed to enhance urban mobility, access to basic services and economic opportunities, and to bolster urban management capacities in the country's secondary cities. Key initiatives under the PMDUVS include the purchase of electric vehicles, improvement of road infrastructures, construction of drainage systems, job creation, and the development of public spaces. The cities targeted by this ambitious project are Bobo-Dioulasso, Kaya, and Ouahigouya.

According to the Burkinabe authorities, the PMDUVS aims to "improve living conditions and strengthen the state's presence by meeting the population's needs and preventing conflicts." The plan comes at a critical time as Burkina Faso has been grappling with a security crisis for several years, leading to slowed economic growth, increased budget deficits, and worsening humanitarian conditions. In response, the Burkinabe state has committed to a $12.6 billion Action Plan for Stabilization and Development (PASD), focusing on counter-terrorism, addressing the humanitarian crisis, restructuring the state, and national reconciliation.

The government's efforts are supported by the World Bank, which, in May 2023, agreed to loan programs to assist in the economic revival of Burkina Faso.