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This study analyzes the determinants of frugal innovation in informal enterprises in Burkina Faso. The methodological approach adopted is quantitative and is based on data collected from 405 enterprises spread across all thirteen regions of the country. These data were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple linear regression. The results highlight the predominance of the owner-manager’s psycho-cognitive factors as the main driver of innovation. Whilst the immediate environment also has a notable, albeit more moderate, impact, the study paradoxically reveals that government policy does not significantly influence the propensity to innovate in informal sector enterprises. This finding validates the theory of self-organization in the informal sector and confirms the importance of proximity-based models. It highlights a form of entrepreneurial resilience capable of overcoming the shortcomings of institutional support. This research encourages entrepreneurs to capitalize on their agility and local networks. It also calls for a shift away from current public policies, moving from complex formal support to local technical support, and creating “frugal innovation free zones” with reduced regulatory constraints.
