Burkina Faso Launches National Workshop to Draft AI Action Plan
The insights from these discussions will be used to produce a draft of the National AI Action Plan, which will include a provisional roadmap for 2026-2028.
In Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, the Ministry of Digital Transition, Postal and Electronic Communications has launched a National Situational Analysis Workshop to help draft the country’s National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan. This event, which took place on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, brought together various public and private sector representatives, academics, and civil society members to create a shared strategic foundation for AI development.
During the workshop’s opening, Dr. Yaya TRAORE, Permanent Secretary for Innovation and Digital Emerging Technologies Watch, emphasized that AI is a transformative technology for all of society, not just for experts. He stressed that mastering AI is crucial for maintaining competitiveness and navigating new challenges. The Secretary General of the Ministry, Dr. Borlli Michel SOME, echoed these sentiments, noting that AI presents a strategic opportunity for Burkina Faso to turn challenges into advantages and create solutions that fit its unique context.
Dr. SOME outlined six key priorities for the upcoming action plan:
- Developing infrastructure and connectivity
- Implementing robust data governance
- Strengthening human capital through AI skills training
- Establishing a legal and ethical framework for responsible AI use
- Fostering innovation and supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem
- Consolidating international cooperation and securing sustainable funding.
Participants were divided into subgroups to discuss priority areas such as governance, ethical frameworks, data, training, research, and innovation. The insights from these discussions will be used to produce a draft of the National AI Action Plan, which will include a provisional roadmap for 2026-2028. Dr. SOME concluded by calling for a collective commitment from all stakeholders to build a document that offers concrete and lasting solutions, highlighting AI’s potential as a tool for inclusion, sovereignty, and socio-economic transformation.
