Burkina Faso

HiiL works with government and civil society partners in Burkina Faso to strengthen access to justice. Despite a temporary pause in 2022 due to political instability, activities resumed in late 2023, underscoring our continued commitment to improving justice delivery in fragile settings.

Our partnership approach in Burkina Faso is based on a logic of shared responsibility, where each actor, particularly civil society organizations, is actively and equitably involved in the co-creation of sustainable solutions. By systematically integrating knowledge transfer and sustainability into our areas of work, we aim to strengthen local autonomy over the long term. This approach has enabled us to build a rich, diverse, and lasting network of partners committed to a more inclusive and innovative access to justice.

Understanding justice needs

We have carried out three nationwide studies on Justice Needs in Burkina Faso. The most recent, an electronic Justice Needs and Satisfaction survey conducted in 2024, revealed a pressing demand for accessible and responsive justice. Only 4% of justice seekers turn to courts, 1% consult lawyers, while 12% rely on customary and traditional authorities, an important trend in light of the constitutional revision that began formally recognising these actors as part of the justice system.

In collaboration with the UNHCR and Terre des Hommes Lausanne, we have also conducted a dedicated Justice Needs study focused on internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities. Based on over 2,100 interviews, this work highlighted the urgent need for accessible justice services in cities such as Kaya and Ouahigouya, particularly amidst worsening security and humanitarian conditions.

Strategic Approach and Local Ownership

Our strategy for Burkina Faso has been co-designed with national partners, including government institutions, civil society actors and traditional leaders. The programme focuses on three pillars: integrating customary justice into national legal frameworks, expanding access to justice for vulnerable populations and reinforcing the role of civil society organisations in justice delivery. To ensure national ownership and contextual sensitivity, we have convened an advisory group composed of senior justice practitioners and legal experts from across the country.

Key highlights

Strengthening legal frameworks:

Provided strategic support to the Ministry of Justice in drafting a legislative proposal to integrate customary dispute resolution into the formal legal system, informed by four regional consultations with women’s groups, youth representatives, and traditional authorities.

Piloting local solutions:

We launched a Justice Innovation Lab with the Observatoire National du Foncier to pilot solutions to land-related justice problems. Through the labs, HiiL supported the commune of Boussouma in developing a local land charter that will gain consensus among traditional authorities, administrative officials, and communities. This charter now will serve as a shared governance framework for land management and helps to prevent and resolve land-related disputes, while also strengthening local capacity for experimentation and co-creation of solutions adapted to community realities.

Advancing justice research:

Partnered with the Centre pour la Gouvernance Démocratique to study justice needs in remote and underserved areas.

Empowering civil society:

Facilitated the establishment of a national platform of 15 civil society organizations committed to people-centered justice. This coalition now provides a permanent space for dialogue and joint advocacy, enabling CSOs to better coordinate their actions and play a stronger role in engaging with the State and technical and financial partners.

Justice-Sira.bf platform:

The launch of the justice-sira.bf website has expanded access to legal and judicial information for citizens. Now recognized as a reference platform, the site provides educational content, updates, and practical tools, thereby helping to reduce the lack of knowledge of the law while promoting transparency and trust in justice.

Visit justice-sira.bf