To support the viability of intercountry adoption as an option for permanency for children in Burkina Faso, the Office of Children’s Issues and the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou sought information from the Burkina Faso Central Authority regarding its legal requirements for the authorization of adoption service providers (ASP), pursuant to Article 12 of the Hague Adoption Convention.

The Convention entered into force in Burkina Faso Central Authority in May 1996. 

Burkinabe law requires U.S. ASPs be authorized by the Ministry of Women, National Solidarity, Family, and Humanitarian Action which acts as the Central Authority.

ASPs with questions about the information below or about pursuing authorization in Burkina Faso should contact the Burkina Faso Central Authority, Ministère de la Femme, de la Solidarité Nationale, de la Famille et de l'Action Humanitaire, 01 BP 515 Ouagadougou 01, Phone: +226 25 48 36 75, Email : laurenceilboudo@yahoo.fr, website: www.action-sociale.gov.bf.  The points of contact are: Madame Laurence, Ministre de la Femme, de la Solidarité Nationale, de la Famille et de l'Action Humanitaire, or Monsieur Soumèla SAKHO, Directeur général de la famille et de l'enfant, or Monsieur SANOU Martin, Directeur de la protection de l'enfant. 

To obtain authorization, a U.S. adoption service provider must provide:

1)      A request for accreditation to the Ministry of Women, National Solidarity, Family, and Humanitarian Action,

2)      A certificate of accreditation issued by the country of origin,

3)      A summary of the organization's programs and activities,

4)      A document describing the actions of the organization, including work on other intercountry adoptions, and how the ASP will work to further the best interests of the child throughout the adoption and post-adoption process.

5)      The legal status of the ASP, including articles of incorporation and internal regulations,

6)      A document explaining the organization of the ASP as well as providing a list of its directors and experience in adoptions.

The Adoption Oversight Division in the Office of Children’s Issues can provide an accreditation verification letter to satisfy part 2 of the Burkinabe requirements.  ASPs may email ASPadoption@state.gov to request this official communication.

For additional information, ASPs may wish to review the Burkina Faso country-information page.