Burkina Faso is a landlocked West African country of 274,000 km2 with a population of about 18.9 million (2017), of which more than 65% are young (under the age of 25). A Low Income Country with per capita income of US$ 696 in 2017, Burkina Faso's economy depends on adequate rainfall. About 90% of the population is engaged in subsistence farming and cotton is the main cash crop. The country has few natural resources and a weak industrial base. Droughts and desertification are severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy. Burkina Faso's 2016 Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.402 was below the regional average of 0.518 for Sub-Saharan Africa and the Country's global rank was 185 out of 188. Burkina Faso joined IsDB in 1978.

In October 2014, a popular uprising resulting in violent protests and pillaging led to President Blaise Compaore's resignation after 27 years in power. After one-year transitional government,

H.E. Roch Marc Christian Kaboré won the November 2015 presidential election in the first round with 53.5% of the vote. It is expected that political stability improves gradually, but increasing activity by regional terror groups remains a serious downside risk.