(Who we are)

About CERFODES USA

(2005)

CERFODES was founded in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in October 2005 as a research, training, and development-support institution. From the beginning, its mission centered on technical support, action research, operational research, participatory training, advisory services, and partner mobilization.

(Africa)

CERFODES grew into a Pan-African consulting presence, with offices and activity across Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Guinea-Bissau, and Malawi. This footprint reflects a broader commitment to African-led expertise and cross-country institutional support.

A fashion model wearing scarf and red dress

(20 years)

In 2025, CERFODES marked roughly two decades of institutional work. The milestone reflects twenty years of research, evaluation, training, technical assistance, and partnerships supporting public, private, and nonprofit actors across development sectors.

(GAIME 2025)

CERFODES expanded its public role in innovation by organizing GAIME Conference 2025 in Kampala, Uganda. The event positioned CERFODES within Africa’s responsible artificial intelligence conversation, connecting technology, governance, research, and development priorities.

(Introduction)

CERFODESUSAsupportsevidence-baseddevelopmentbyconnectingresearch,training,data,andtechnicalassistancewiththeneedsofinstitutionsandcommunities.Wehelppartnersunderstandcomplexchallenges,strengthenprograms,andturnknowledgeintopracticalactionacrossBurkinaFaso,WestAfrica,andglobaldevelopmentnetworks.

Trusted by

(Approach)

Researchrigorously.Trainpractically.Analyzeclearly.Advisestrategically.Deliverresponsibly.

Start a partnership

(Stats)

20+

Backed by CERFODES’ experience in development research, training, and technical support since its founding in 2005.

Core service areas: research, training, data, advisory/coaching, and logistics support for field-based development work.

Countries connected through recent multi-country research collaboration across Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Nigeria.

(Project spotlight)

CERFODES helped launch the Éducation accélérée ED+ research project in Burkina Faso, bringing together education actors, civil society, NGOs, UN agencies, and government representatives to co-construct a response to learning in crisis-affected communities. The initiative focuses on evidence, accelerated education, inclusive learning, and practical pathways for children outside the school system.

LeFaso.net

Media coverage • Éducation accélérée ED+

Dr. Yacouba Yaro founded CERFODES in 2005 and has served as its Director General ever since. Under his leadership, the firm has grown into a leading Africa-based, African-led consulting and research organization. It now operates across Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Guinea-Bissau, and Malawi. Dr. Yaro holds a doctorate in socio-demography from Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. His doctoral research examined the determinants of primary education access in Burkina Faso. Before founding CERFODES, he worked as a researcher with the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD). He published widely on education demand, school infrastructure, and rural-to-urban school migration. His research also covered the impact of conflict and HIV/AIDS on schooling in West Africa. This work has been cited across dozens of academic publications. In the two decades since founding CERFODES, he has led large-scale evaluation, training, and technical assistance engagements. His clients have included the World Bank, UNICEF, UNDP, USAID, and GIZ. Recent national projects include the SASA! Ensemble gender-based-violence prevention initiative and the Éducation Accélérée ED+ program in Burkina Faso.