In a major step towards revitalizing Burkina Faso’s cultural landscape, the country’s Ministry of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism has signed a landmark partnership with the Swiss Cooperation Office and Consular Agency, securing a CFA 2 billion funding agreement aimed at supporting local cultural initiatives.
The agreement, officially sealed on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Ouagadougou, was signed by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Culture, Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo, and the Head of Swiss Cooperation in Burkina Faso, Christian Eggs.
The funds will be channeled into the Programme d’Appui au Développement des Initiatives Culturelles (PADIC1), which will span from 2025 to 2028.
Switzerland will provide 67% of the total financing, amounting to CFA 1.34 billion, while the remaining 33% — CFA 660 million — will be covered by the Burkinabe government.
Christian Eggs hailed the agreement as a crucial milestone in cultural cooperation between the two nations.
“The goal is to enhance the capacity of cultural actors to contribute to peace and social cohesion,” he said.
Eggs added that the initiative builds on the foundations of earlier efforts and will enable the Cultural and Tourism Development Fund (FDCT) to issue more project calls focusing on the role of culture in conflict prevention and national unity.
Minister Ouédraogo expressed deep gratitude to the Swiss government for what he described as a “decisive turning point” in bilateral relations.
He emphasized that the PADIC program would not only fund private cultural projects but also assist in implementing key structural reforms, including the long-anticipated status of the artist and the 1% law for artistic integration in public infrastructure.
Additionally, the program will support the rehabilitation of the iconic Ciné Guimbi Ouattara and enhance the technical and operational capabilities of both public institutions and private cultural entities.
However, the minister issued a strong call for accountability:
“Cultural operators must manage these resources with integrity.
This is a rare opportunity to advance our sector — and we cannot afford to waste it.”
As Burkina Faso navigates complex social and political challenges, this partnership signals a renewed commitment to using culture as a vehicle for unity, dialogue, and national renewal.
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