Burkina Faso is a landlocked African country that gained its independence from France in 1960. It was renamed to Burkina Faso in order to reflect each of the two main languages spoken there, namely Mòoré and Dioula. Burkina Faso is understood to be the “Land of the honest people.” It has one of the lowest GDP rates per capita in the world, and one of the highest fertility rates at 5.93 children per woman. Slavery continues to this day in Burkina Faso.
- Expat Clubs
- Schools
- Local News Sources
- Country Information
- Resident and Work visa information
- How to get a driving license
- Where to live and about the accomodation types
- Healthcare information including Hospitals and Insurance
Expat Clubs
Ouagadougou Expat Association
This is a social networking and fun for English speakers in Ouagadougou. You can find kids camps, event listings and more on their Facebook page.
www.facebook.com/ouagadougou.expat.association
International Schools
International School of Ouagadougou
The International School of Ouagadougou is a non-profit day school which offers an English language educational program to children in Pre-K through Grade 12 in Ouagadougou. Situated on the outskirts of the capital of Burkina Faso, we enjoy a family-supported learning community representing over 28 nationalities.
Curriculum: American
Address: ISO is located in the Zogona neighborhood of Ouagadougou (Secteur 13, Rue 13.22, Porte 612).
Tel: 226 50 36 21 43/ 50 36 13 50
Email: iso@iso.bf
Website: www.iso.bf
Ecole Francaise Andre Malraux
The school is open to children of all nationalities. It is secular. Families must attend school provided a family book or an extract from full birth certificate in the name of the student, the book up to date vaccinations and, where appropriate the certificate of cancellation of the previous establishment and academic record.
Curriculum: French
Address: 01 BP 194 – Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Tel: 226 20 97 12 15
Website: www.ecolefrancaise-bobodioulasso.com/
Groupe Scolaire Les Laureats
The school's primary mission is to provide its students, regardless of their social, cultural or geographical background, a quality education based on the principles of equality, freedom and secularism.
Curriculum: French
Address: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Tel: 226 50 37 42 02
Website: http://www.leslaureats.net/
Lycee Saint Exupery Ouagadoudou
This is a French curriculum school that caters to both high school and primary school children in the heart of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso.
Curriculum: French
Address: 01 BP 1478 Ouagadougou 01 Burkina Faso
Collège/Lycée:
Tel: (226) 50 33 13 08 / 50 31 27 63
Fax: (226) 50 31 01 43
Email: lycee.saintexuperybf@gmail.com
Ecole Primaire:
Tel: (226) 50 33 32 40
Fax: (226) 50 31 01 43
Email: primaire.saintexupery@gmail.com
Website: www2.ac-toulouse.fr
Local News in English
IRIN humanitarian news and analysis
IRIN exists to make a difference. According to a 2008 survey by the global marketing research company ACNielsen, IRIN is the premier online humanitarian news source for people who describe themselves as having a "strong impact on humanitarian issues". Its reports are used directly in planning, advocacy and policy development.
Website: www.irinnews.org/country/bf/burkina-faso
All Africa
AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa - aggregating, producing and distributing 2000 news and information items daily from over 130 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Lagos, Monrovia, Nairobi and Washington DC.
Website: allafrica.com/burkinafaso
Topix
Topix is the best place online to find out what's going on in your neighborhood, stories often ignored by news organizations. More than 450,0004 subjects of interest to your community are discussed daily on Topix, easily searchable by zip code.
Website: www.topix.net/world/burkina-faso
Country Information
Location: Africa
Capital City: Ouagadougou
Currency: West African CFA Franc (CFA)
Language: French
Calling Code: +226
Internet TLD: .bf
Electricity: Société Nationale d'électricité du Burkina Faso
Address: 55 Avenue de la Nation
Tel: (226) 50 30 61 00/02/03/04
Fax: (226) 50 31 03 40
Email: courier@sonabel.bf
Website: www.sonabel.bf
Emergency Numbers:
Police: 17
Firemen: 18
Country Information
en.wikipedia.org
Embassy Information
embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-in/burkina-faso
Residents Visa and Work Permit information
Getting a visa into Burkina Faso is relatively easy. People should apply online for their visa, and also to see if they are eligible. There are tourist visas available for Burkina Faso. US citizens can get up to 5 years multiple entry for just USD 140. Business visas should be applied for in the same way.
Documents required:
- Valid Passport with at least one free page.
- Two original application forms available online at burkina-faso.visahq.com/Burkina_Faso-Tourist-visa-application.pdf
- Two recent photographs on a white or light background.
- A letter from your employer stating your current position and purpose of travel to Burkina Faso.
- For US Citizens – proof of residency.
- Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry.
Accommodation
Expats generally live in the capital Ouagadougou. The accommodation is usually quite spacious in large Villas left by the French colonials who occupied this country in the sixties. If villa living is not your thing, then there are also a few apartments that you can find in the City that are available to expatriates. Housing of all sizes and kinds is available in Burkina Faso, however a house suited to expatriates will set you back between 500 and 1000 USD per month, depending on the size. It should be noted that kitchens, even the ones in the big mansions are quite decrepit, this is due to the fact that you are expected to have servants, even if you are in the lower middle class as you are providing a much needed job for someone.
Driving License
If you are from the UK, you can drive in Burkina Faso using your UK driving license. With a few exceptions, roads are poor with few street lights. There is a risk of banditry and hitting stray livestock. Road conditions off the main roads are often difficult, especially in the rainy season (June-September). Vehicles do not always have headlights and are often in poor condition.
Stay on clearly marked roads or tracks and avoid minor roads in remote areas unless travelling in convoy. If you break down off a main road you may not be able to attract help. Carry drinking water with you.
For more information on Burkina Faso visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/burkina-faso/safety-and-security
If you are unsure whether it is legal for you to drive in Burkina Faso with your driving license, it is best to obtain an international driving permit before going to Burkina Faso.
You can rent a car in Burkina Faso, however driving in rural areas and at night is ill advised due to the high crime rate in the country. Always stick to well lit, maintained roads.
National Car rental
Remember, at National, all cars are priced, booked and controlled by car category, not by car make or model. Vehicle features, seating and luggage capacities are not guaranteed and are subject to manufacturer make and model. The indicated capacities should be used as a general guideline only.
Website: www.nationalcar.com/fleet.do?countryId=BF
Avis Car Rental
Avis Rent A Car System, LLC and its subsidiaries operate one of the world’s leading car rental brands, providing business and leisure customers with a wide range of services at approximately 2,200 locations in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Latin American / Caribbean region, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Website: www.avis.com/car-rental/location/AFR/UV/Ouagadougou
Healthcare
The healthcare system in Burkina Faso leaves much to be desired and expats are encouraged to have an international health insurance plan which will cover any eventuality including medical evacuation. Recently the government has tried to improve the healthcare facilities by upgrading the facilities and skills in the healthcare sector.
Many of the clinics and hospitals do not have a webpage; you will have to rely on other expats and locals for their recommendation of the best doctors, clinics and hospitals.
Hospitals and health centres
Polyclinique Notre Dame de la Paix
Professional Civil Society Doctors opened the clinic in January 2007. The clinic has a good reputation among expatriates and is covered by international insurance.
Address: 01 BP 5666 Ouagadougou 01, Area 24, Area Somgandin about 1500 meters from the Hotel Sofitel SILMANDE
Tel: +226 50 35 71 06 / +226 50 35 61 53 / +226 50 35 61 55
Website: www.pndp.bf
Policlinique du Centre
Address: 01 BP 403 Ouagadougou
Tel: 226 50 31 37 78 (+226-50 31 37 78)
Hôpital National Blaise Compaoré Ouagadougou
Tel: (226) 50 50 96 62 / 50 50 96 65 / 50 50 96 66
Centre Hospitalier National Yalgado Ouédraogo de Ouagadougou
Address: 03 BP: 7022 Ouagadougou 03
Tel: + 226 50311655/56/57
Email: chuyobf@gmail.com and sourosanon@gmail.com
Website: chuyobf.org
Centre Hospitalier Pédiatrique Charles de Gaulle de Ouagadougou
Address: sector 28 at the intersection of General Charles de Gaulle Avenue and boulevard Tansoba
Tel: + 226 50.36.67.79
Hôpital St Camille, Ouagadougou
Tel: + 226 50 36 30 56
Email: st.camille@fasonet.bf
Centre médical protestant Schiphra, Ouagadougou
Tel: + 226 50 30 09 86
Centre médical avec Antenne chirurgical du secteur 30, Ouagadougou
Tel: + 226 50 37 04 82
Centre médico-social de l’Ambassade de France, Ouagadougou
Tel: + 226 50 30 66 07
Centre Médical Paul VI, Ouagadougou
Tel: +226 50350065
Clinique Cemmatra
Address: Bobo-Dioulasso
Tel: 226 97 49 49
Clinique St. Leopold
Address: Bobo-Dioulasso
Tel: 226 97 54 12
For more information please visit: http://en.aubergelecailcedrat.com/list-of-health-facilities_3712882.html
