VZCZCXRO6038
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHOU #0420/01 1371024
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 161024Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3690
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USUN NEW YORK
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 OUAGADOUGOU 000420 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF FOR DAS TOSS MOSS 
AF/W FOR EMILY PLUMB, JASON HUTCHINSON 
AF/EPS FOR AMY BRIETER 
USAID FOR AFR/WA 
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USTR FOR LAURIE ANN AGAMA 
COMMERCE FOR SALIHA LOUCIF 
TREASURY FOR OFFICE OF AFRICAN NATIONS 
ACCRA FOR USAID-WA 
DAKAR FOR USDA and OFDA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ECON SENV SOCI PGOV UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO'S POVERTY INCREASED IN 2007, MAY INCREASE 
FURTHER IN 2008, BUT SHOULD DECREASE OVER LONGER TERM 
 
 
OUAGADOUGO 00000420  001.2 OF 004 
 
 
Reftels: A) Ouagadougou 202; B) Ouagadougou 221 
      C) Ouagadougou 020; D) Ouagadougou 235; 
      E) Ouagadougou 396 
 
¶1. Key Points: 
 
- Despite numerous poverty reduction programs, the incidence of 
poverty in Burkina Faso rose from 42.1 percent in 2006 to 42.6 
percent in 2007, April 3 consultations between the host government 
and donors revealed. 
 
- Burkina Faso was unable to reach its poverty goal of a 39.2 
percent incidence rate in 2007 because of higher inflation and 
slower growth. 
 
-- Although the inflation rate was a negative 0.3 percent through 
the first half of 2007, a dramatic rise in world oil and food prices 
caused Burkina Faso's Consumer Price Index (CPI) to soar in the 
second half of the year, from 118.6 in July 2007 to 122.6 by the end 
of December (ref A). 
 
-- Before 2007, a relatively rapid GDP growth rate (e.g. 7.1 percent 
in 2005, and 6.4 percent in 2006) had steadily lowered the incidence 
of poverty from 46.2 percent in 2003 to 42.1 percent in 2006.  GDP 
growth slowed, however, to 4.2 percent rate in 2007. 
 
¶2. Key Judgments: 
 
-- Growth in the Burkinabe economy averaged about 6 percent per year 
for the 10 years ending 2006.  One 2006 article in the "Journal of 
African Economics" estimated that poverty in Burkina Faso 
significantly decreased between 1994 and 2003, but actually 
increased during the initial period of 1994 and 1998 because of a 
severe drought and the devaluation of the CFA franc, which led to a 
profound deterioration in the purchasing power of the poor. 
Unfortunately, mid-2007 marked another negative turning point for 
the purchasing power of Burkina Faso's poor. 
 
-- Anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that the CPI again rose 
sharply in the first quarter of 2008, with large increases in prices 
for basic food commodities such as rice and bread, as well as a 
continued ripple effect through the economy of higher oil prices 
(leading to higher import costs into landlocked Burkina Faso, as 
well as higher domestic electricity and transport costs).  We 
believe that that, baring strong harvests of cotton and grains this 
year, Burkina Faso's poor will face another decline in purchasing 
power in 2008. 
 
-- Annual population growth from 2000-2006 averaged about 3.0 
percent, and was likely about this figure in 2007 as well.  Since 
real GDP growth was 4.2 percent in 2007, real per capita income grew 
about 1.2 percent in 2007.  However, since the poverty incidence 
rate rose in 2007 to 42.6 percent, real income gains in 2007 accrued 
to the segment of the population above the poverty line. 
 
-- Poverty in Burkina Faso continued to be an overwhelming rural 
phenomenon with a disproportionate number of poor living in rural 
areas (49.1 percent) compared to urban areas (16.6 percent).  It is 
possible, however, that urban poverty could increase relatively 
faster than rural poverty in 2008 as the basket of goods consumed by 
the urban poor may include a higher component of costlier, imported 
products. 
 
-- Increased urban poor may have already been a factor strengthening 
support in several cities in Burkina Faso for marches and protests 
in recent weeks against rising living costs (ref B and septel). 
 
-- Exogenous, global factors are not alone responsible for Burkina 
Faso's struggling fight against poverty.  Donors cited 
underutilization of available donor resources and, most importantly, 
corruption as fundamental issues jeopardizing success in this fight. 
Although Burkina Faso was able to raise 108 percent of the required 
funds for poverty reduction programs, lack of efficiency and poor 
planning resulted in expenditure of only 65.53 percent of the total 
2007 budget. 
 
OUAGADOUGO 00000420  002.2 OF 004 
 
 
 
-- Longer term, however, there are reasons for renewed optimism 
about Burkina Faso's fight against poverty. GSP growth is expected 
to recover to 6.3 percent in 2009 in part due to a rebounding cotton 
sector. 
 
-- Burkina Faso has also been investing in its future.  It made 
significant strides during the 2006-07 school year to give boys and 
girls, particularly those living in rural areas, the means to 
complete their primary school education.  The government continued 
heavy investment in health-related infrastructure and clinics. 
Burkina Faso also continued to made progress in improving its 
climate for new enterprises, and has had success in attractive 
foreign investment in the mining sector. 
 
End Key Points and Key Judgments. 
 
Poverty Reduction Lost Ground in 2007 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. On April 3, 2008, the Government of Burkina Faso (GOBF) met with 
domestic stakeholders and international donors to conduct the eighth 
update to its World Bank/IMF-supported Poverty Reduction Strategy 
Paper (PRSP).  The goal of this meeting was to provide stakeholders 
with crucial updates on macroeconomic, structural, and social 
policies related to poverty reduction. 
 
¶4. Many of the key statistics that the GOBF shared with donors were 
disheartening.  Not only was Burkina Faso unable to reach its 
targeted incidence rate of 39.2 percent in 2007, the incidence of 
poverty in Burkina Faso actually rose from 42.1 percent in 2006 to 
42.6 percent in 2007.  Before 2007, a relatively rapid GDP growth 
rate (e.g. 7.1 percent in 2005, and 6.4 percent in 2006) had 
steadily lowered the incidence of poverty from 46.2 percent in 2003 
to 42.1 percent in 2006.  The 2007 economic slowdown to 4.2 percent 
GDP growth rate, however, was behind the rebound of the poverty 
rate.  GDP growth slowed because of rising oil prices and a cotton 
sector crisis brought on in large part because of lower world cotton 
prices.  GDP growth is expected to fall further to 4.0 percent in 
2008, according to the IMF, which suggests that Burkina Faso's 
incidence of poverty may increase again in 2008. 
 
¶5. Donors expressed concern that other poverty indicators had also 
increased in 2007, and suggested that the GOBF carefully assess the 
impact of current inflation on future poverty estimates.  According 
to recent statistics, the depth of poverty indicator, which measures 
the mean aggregate income or consumption short-fall relative to the 
poverty line across the whole population, increased from 13.7 in 
2006 to 13.9 in 2007.  The poverty severity indicator, which takes 
into account not only the distance separating the poor from the 
poverty line but also the inequality among the poor, increased from 
6.6 points in 2006 to 6.9 points in 2007. 
 
Poor Execution of Poverty Programs, 
Corruption Impede Fight Against Poverty 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. The PRSP's 2007 implementation plan called for a budget of 465.7 
billion CFA (US 1.09 billion).  Although the GOBF was able to raise 
503.9 billon CFA (US 1.19 billion), it only spent 65.53 percent of 
this amount.  According to government official, funds were not 
allocated until the last quarter of 2007, leaving little time for 
plan execution. 
 
¶7. According to donors, corruption continues to pose a significant 
threat to sustainable outcomes for poverty reduction and fiscal 
policy management in Burkina Faso.  Representatives from Civil 
Society Organizations (CSOs) echoed donor concerns about corruption 
and criticized the GOBF for interfering in judicial and political 
processes.  They pointed to several high profile cases where corrupt 
civil servants were simply dismissed from office without any further 
legal action. 
 
¶8. Both Donors and CSO representatives praised newly passed 
legislation which merged three ineffective anti-corruption bodies 
 
OUAGADOUGO 00000420  003.2 OF 004 
 
 
into the Superior Authority of State Control (ASCE), a new, unified 
institution with some additional powers (ref C).  They remained 
convinced, however, that only a strong political will at the highest 
level could reduce corruption.  They urged the government to 
continue efforts to enhance accountability by granting greater 
access to crucial data, so that donors and CSOs could more 
effectively contribute to the PRSP review progress. 
 
Three Other Areas of PRSP Implementation: 
Education, Health, and Enterprise Development 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶9. Despite the disappointing results for 2007 and uncertain 
prospects for 2008, there are reasons for renewed optimism about 
Burkina Faso's longer-term fight against poverty.  GSP growth is 
expected to recover to 6.3 percent in 2009 in part due to a 
rebounding cotton sector.  Most importantly, Burkina Faso - with the 
crucial help of the donor community - has been investing in its 
future.  During the April 3 review of the PRSP, participants 
discussed four major areas which profoundly impact poverty in 
Burkina Faso.  Besides economic growth (reflected in points above), 
the three other areas were: 
 
-- Education: In July 2007, Burkina Faso passed a law to 
dramatically restructure its educational system over a 10-year 
period (ref D). The law includes a gradual implementation plan to 
enroll all children under the age of 16 in school free of charge. 
Thanks to this legislation, Burkina Faso made significant strides 
during the 2006-07 school year to give boys and girls, particularly 
those living in rural areas, the means to complete their primary 
school education. Statistics for 2007 show the gross enrollment 
ratio for primary education, which provides an overall view of the 
coverage of the education system, moved from 66.5 percent in 2006 to 
72.6 percent in 2007. (The enrollment rate for girls was 
significantly less and improved relatively less, increasing from 61 
percent in 2006 to 64.8 percent in 2007). 
 
In the informal education sector, the overall literacy rate for the 
population aged 15 years and older increased from 18.4 percent in 
1998 to 28.3 percent in 2007.  With 10 percent increase in nine 
years, it is unlikely that Burkina Faso will meet its Millennium 
Development Goal milestone of a 40 percent literacy rate by 2010. 
Donors commented that while the Government had improved access to 
basic education, they felt that educational quality had not 
improved.  Many were also concerned over the implications of 
decentralization (ref E) on education and stressed the role of 
interdepartmental communication in improving access to basic 
education, while maintaining minimal quality standards. 
 
-- Health: The government, with support from its partners, continued 
efforts to strengthen the nation's healthcare system through the 
development of health-related infrastructure and clinics. Donors 
congratulated the GOBF on the vaccination coverage rate against 
yellow fever (93.86 percent) and measles (93.86 percent) and the 
rate of assisted births (58.2 percent), but cautioned that other 
challenges still lay ahead.  Attendees pointed to three major areas 
of concern: 1) 5.7 million Burkinabe have no access to clean water 
and 12.6 million lack adequate sanitation facilities; 2) the number 
of households located less than half an hour from a health center 
decreased from 39.5 percent in 2005 to 38 percent in 2007; 3) the 
nation's morbidity rate increased from 5.8 percent in 2003 to 8.4 
percent in 2007.  Donors criticized the GOBF for its complaints 
about lack of healthcare funding and its subsequent failure to fully 
utilize the financial resources at its disposal.  Attendees also 
questioned why the Government had failed to furnish data on several 
important health indicators such as staffing levels and clinic 
locations. 
 
-- Enterprise Development: Donors stressed the importance of 
increased private sector partcipation in economic development and 
urged the gvernment to take appropriate measures to involve smll 
and medium-sized enterprises in infrstructure implementation 
projects.  Attendees pointed out that some progress had been made in 
improving the business climate in Burkina Faso, but urged the 
strengthening of strategic partnerships between public and private 
 
OUAGADOUGO 00000420  004.2 OF 004 
 
 
sectors.  Private sector representatives voiced their concern over 
the skyrocketing cost of fuel and requested government initiated 
prices reductions.  The private sector also added that business 
formalities still require further simplification, and echoed donor 
demand that the GOBF take decisive action in the fight against 
corruption. 
 
JACKSON