Ouagadougou - Post Report Question and Answers
What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
Most work at the Embassy. Not a lot of expat jobs. If someone is entrepreneurial and has a skill they can promote, it's possible to work for yourself. - Jun 2020
Some work at the embassy. Some telecommute. Some teach at ISO. - Oct 2019
Jobs within the embassy. Teaching. NGOs. - Jul 2019
There are several jobs within the Embassy. Some spouses also work with local NGOs, but that requires a high level of French language skills. Telecommuting is possible but the inconsistent internet service can make it difficult. Some spouses teach at the International School of Ouagadougou. - Jul 2019
Several spouses telecommute or take online classes. Local salaries are much lower than U.S. Spouses could explore jobs at the International School, doing freelance (such as exercise classes), in the mining sector or international development. For most local work you need to be fluent in French. - Dec 2017
No. Pay would be very low, and you would need French. - May 2016
A few with NGOs, most require at least some French. - Aug 2015
If you work in international development, yes. Otherwise, not really. French is necessary. - Jun 2015
There are some jobs, but French fluency is an absolute requirement. The US government makes a respectable effort to employ family members, but as with many small embassies, family members will likely be vastly overqualified for anything they're doing as an EFM. - Nov 2012
No. - Aug 2010
ISO and NGOs sometimes have job openings. The Embassy has five or six jobs for eligible family members - but they aren't all full-time or - Jul 2008
Not really. Pay here is very low (for example, a fully-tenured professor at the local university might get US$500/month). Almost nothing is available through the embassy. To do any work on the local economy, even volunteer work, you'll need to speak some French. Be creative in looking for and finding work. - Jun 2008
