Bachir Ismael Ouedraogo is a senior advisor at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, where he plays a key role in addressing Africa’s energy challenges and promoting regional development. He works with governments across the continent to overcome barriers to electricity access and job creation.

With extensive experience working on the Sahel region, Ouedraogo contributes to initiatives aimed at reducing terrorism and insecurity. He served as Burkina Faso’s minister of energy and mines for four years, during which he doubled the country’s energy access. He also successfully attracted private investment to develop around 200 megawatts of solar energy projects.

Ouedraogo’s efforts have focused on improving electricity access in Burkina Faso and facilitating the development of regional interconnections. He played a crucial role in advancing the West African Power Pool, an initiative to integrate national power systems into a unified regional electricity market.

In addition, Ouedraogo served as the coordinator of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Renewable Energy Entrepreneurship Support Facility. He is also the founder and chief executive officer of OPEN Education, an organization focused on developing e-learning solutions for developing countries. OPEN Education has created apps that provide access to quality education through information technology, particularly for underserved populations. Ouedraogo has also been elected twice as a member of parliament for Burkina Faso, where he served as parliamentary secretary.

Ouedraogo holds a PhD in the economics of renewable energy and climate change from the University of Manchester, where he conducted extensive research on the financial impact of renewable energy in developing countries. He also holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of Ouagadougou and a master’s degree in public policy finance from the University of Maastricht.