Overview
Burkina Faso recruits civil servants through competitive exams called concours. The Agence Générale de Recrutement de l'Etat (AGRE) runs the process and publishes the opening notices, admission lists and exam schedules on its site. Each year the ministry in charge of the public service opens direct competitions (concours directs) and professional competitions (concours professionnels) to recruit trainees for schools such as ENAREF, the financial administration school.
AGRE's site sorts its notices into several types: professional exams, professional competitions, direct competitions, inter-State competitions and tests run for public enterprises. Every competition has its own notice with its own posts, level and conditions, so there is no single syllabus. The sources are in French.
Who can apply
Entry level depends on the competition. For ENAREF direct competitions, the stated diploma requirements by cycle are:
| Cycle | Options | Required diploma |
|---|---|---|
| A | Accounting, taxation, finance, economics and development, regional planning | Licence in law or economics, or a recognised equivalent |
| B | Accounting, taxation, finance | Baccalaureate or a recognised equivalent |
| C | Accounting, taxation or finance | Certificate of first-cycle studies (BEPC) or a recognised equivalent |
Other conditions for each competition are in its notice.
Important dates
2025: online registration for direct competitions at level baccalaureate or above ran from 23 May to 1 June 2025, and for levels below the baccalaureate from 4 to 13 June 2025.
2026: the notice for baccalaureate-level direct competitions opened online registration from 22 May 2026, but the notice contradicts itself on the closing date. The notice headline gives 31 March 2026, which is before the opening date and so cannot be right, while the body of the notice gives 31 May 2026. Check the e-concours platform for the real closing date. Professional competitions by trade were open from 15 to 24 March 2026.
How to apply
Applications are received online only. Direct competitions use the e-concours platform at econcours.gov.bf, and professional competitions use econcours-pro.gov.bf.
Is there one single Burkina concours?
No. Many competitions are opened each year, each with its own notice, level and conditions. Read the notice for the one you want.