Meet Youssouf: Strengthening Governance and Community Resilience in Burkina Faso

We are pleased to introduce Youssouf Ouattara, GCERF’s National Adviser in Burkina Faso. He is a seasoned public policy expert with a deep commitment to governance, decentralisation, and community development.

Youssouf’s career spans over 20 years, during which he has served as a senior civil servant, including as Municipal Secretary General at Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation. He has also held leadership roles in programme management, monitoring and evaluation, and organisational development with both local and international NGOs. A Fulbright scholar, Youssouf earned a Master’s degree in Public Affairs with a specialisation in Public Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

At GCERF, Youssouf works closely with civil society partners, government authorities, and donors to ensure programmes are locally relevant, effective, and sustainable. He provides technical guidance to grantees, strengthens organisational capacities, and fosters collaboration across all levels to build community resilience against violent extremism.

“Preventing violent extremism requires more than programmes—it requires strong institutions, local ownership, and trust-based relationships,” Youssouf says. “I am motivated by the opportunity to support communities in building resilience and fostering inclusive governance.”

Youssouf regularly engages with local partners to understand their challenges firsthand, supporting them to design and implement impactful solutions. His experience, dedication, and deep understanding of Burkina Faso’s governance and local contexts make him an invaluable contributor to GCERF’s mission to promote peace and resilience across the country.