A solar-powered digital hub brings internet access to rural Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 📡

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Doufiguisso, a small village in Burkina Faso, is experiencing a quiet digital transformation. Thanks to the installation of a government-backed “Digital Hub,” residents can now access the internet and online public services without leaving their community. It’s a small structure with potentially outsized impact — and a clear signal of the country’s push to close the rural digital divide.

A connected container at the heart of the village 🏠

Doufiguisso is now part of a growing network of connected rural communities. Its Digital Hub takes the form of a refurbished shipping container equipped with desktop computers, a scanner, a printer, multimedia tools, and satellite internet connectivity.

Powered by solar panels and supported by a Wi-Fi relay covering a 50-meter radius, the facility provides internet access for 500 CFA francs per month — an affordable fee, according to local residents.

“Before this, students had to travel to Bobo-Dioulasso to conduct research or apply for national exams,” said Augustin Sanou, the site manager, speaking to local media.

Bringing public services closer 🖥️

The hub goes beyond basic connectivity. It also enables residents to complete a range of administrative procedures online. Criminal record requests, nationality certificates, and other official documents can now be processed locally — eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming trips to the city.

Backed by Burkina Faso’s Universal Access and Service Fund (FASU) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), the initiative aims to bring government services closer to citizens while expanding digital access in areas traditionally underserved by telecom infrastructure.

A new space for connection and community 🤝🏽

The Digital Hub isn’t just for students. Women, out-of-school youth, and older residents also use the space to stay in touch with family and explore social media platforms. WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube rank among the most popular services.

For Bernard Sanou, president of the village development council, the project marks a historic milestone. “Our village is honored. We are ready to support any initiative that drives development,” he said. Local authorities are now hoping to replicate the model in other communities.

Two pilot sites tackling the digital divide 🚀

Doufiguisso isn’t alone. A second Digital Hub has been rolled out in Lemnogo, located in the rural commune of Komki-Ipala. Together, the two pilot sites will serve as testing grounds for a broader expansion across remote regions of Burkina Faso.

The rollout aligns with the vision of Minister Dr. Aminata Zerbo/Sabane, who has made nationwide access to digital public services a priority. In Doufiguisso, learning, launching a business, or connecting with the world no longer requires a long journey to the nearest city. Now, a click is enough.

👉🏾 Do you think these digital centres could bring about lasting change to life in rural villages in Burkina Faso?