In addition to political challenges, Burundi’s economic indicators are among the weakest in the developing country category. Burundi has one of the highest population densities in Africa, and 68% of Burundians live below the poverty line. While 90% of the population depends on subsistence agriculture, yields and food security have been decimated by conflict, crop diseases, soil depletion and small, unproductive patterns of land tenure. Land scarcity has been exacerbated by the return of thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons to Burundi. While off farm economic opportunity is critical to economic and social stability, Burundi’s private sector remains small, and trade and credit systems are in their infancy. Economic growth activities will thus focus on improving agricultural productivity and markets while providing alternatives to farming through vocational skills training and microenterprise development and fostering more effective management of Burundi’s natural resources in accordance with Section 117 of the Foreign Assistance Act.
The Nkurunziza government has focused on improving access to basic services in its first year, with announcements of free primary education and maternal and child healthcare. Yet the physical and human infrastructure needed to provide these services is in short supply. Programs in health, HIV/AIDS and education will address these challenges at two levels, by building the capacity of government authorities to better manage the delivery of essential services, while improving the demand for and quality of these services at the community level.
Peace and Security:
Stabilization Operations and Security Sector Reform
Lasting peace in Burundi will require a security sector composed of a professionally-trained national police force alongside a disciplined national military. Burundi’s uniformed services must increasingly respect and enforce the law if Burundi’s stability is to be maintained. Assistance will build the professionalism of police, military, border and customs officials, and national intelligence services through FY08 as these groups complete the integration of former National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) adversaries and National Liberation Forces rebels. Long term funding and training will assist the Burundians to develop their own capabilities to work with the UN, the African Union and regional peacekeeping forces, where they will not only strengthen the regional security fabric, but also lessen dependence on future international aid.
Conflict Mitigation and Reconciliation
Burundi’s political, social and economic security remains shattered after 12 years of war. Thousands of refugees and ex-combatants have yet to be reintegrated into communities throughout Burundi. Land and employment are scarce, and while elected local governments are in place, they have few means to provide assistance to their constituents or the returnees. The management of local conflicts is key to the consolidation of security in Burundi, which in turn will contribute to economic growth and long term stability. By providing local administrations with grants for rehabilitation projects, the positive impact of the peace process will be demonstrated to both returnees and residents, leading over the next five years to improved human security, the rebuilding of social capital and the strengthening of local infrastructure and governance.
Governing Justly and Democratically:
Rule of Law and Human Rights
Burundi’s legal system must address its lack of independence and outdated statutes if it is to meet the needs of a developing country. This is clearest in the context of land conflict management. Population density and returning refugees have led to increasing conflicts over land. Yet Burundi’s land code is outdated and land conflict management initiatives are often poorly coordinated. By assisting the Government in conflict-sensitive, inclusive land code reform and training state and non-state actors to improve the quality of land conflict resolution, a key source of social instability and economic uncertainty will be alleviated, leading over the next five years not only to increased respect for the rule of law, but also to sustainable economic growth.
Good Governance
Despite a strong mandate and an ambitious reform agenda, Burundi still faces a number of challenges to effective governance, including inexperienced personnel, a lack of coordination and transparency, allegations of corruption, and an increasingly tense relationship with civil society and media. Through activities to train the executive branch to better set policy priorities and improve administrative management, support more democratic and legitimate reforms through government civil society dialogue and improved oversight of the implementation of reforms, and build the capacity of government and civil society watchdogs to combat corruption, government policies and institutions will be strengthened. Over the next five years increasing transparency will lead to more accountable governance and greater political stability.
Civil Society
Burundi’s civil society institutions have a key role to play in improving democratic practices, given Burundi’s lack of experience with participatory governance. Yet civil society currently lacks avenues for dialogue with the Nkurunziza government, and local media’s relationship with the authorities has become increasingly contentious. Financial sustainability also remains an issue. Through activities to strengthen civil society’s capacity to provide oversight and advocate on behalf of its constituents, helping civil society organizations achieve financial sustainability, and providing opportunities for increased government-civil society dialogue, public participation in the political process will be increased, leading over the next five years to a more vibrant civil society, greater freedom of the press and more inclusive governance.
Investing in People:
Health
Burundi’s health system currently lacks the personnel and equipment to meet the basic needs of its population. As a result, maternal and child mortality rates are among the highest in the world and HIV prevalence is the second highest in Central Africa. Through activities to improve maternity and child health and vaccination programs at the community level, and by building the capacity of local organizations to provide HIV-related services according to international standards, Burundi’s health practitioners will be better able to manage the leading threats to maternal and child health as well as the HIV/AIDS pandemic, contributing over five years to reduced child mortality, improved maternal and HIV-related service provision and an overall improvement in the health and productivity of the Burundian population.
Education
While a well-functioning education system is key to building a skilled workforce to jumpstart Burundi’s failing economy, Burundi’s schools still face many challenges, including a lack of qualified teachers. In addition, tens of thousands of Burundians have not been able to attend any formal school due to the conflict as well as lack of means. As a result, Burundi has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world. Training programs for teachers on basic numeracy and literacy skills will supplement Burundi’s understaffed teacher corps, enabling them to enroll increased numbers of out of school youth and adult learners whose needs are currently unmet. Over the next five years this will not only contribute to higher literacy and primary school completion rates, but also improved livelihood opportunities for Burundi’s most vulnerable.
Economic Growth:
Trade and Investment
While sustainable economic development in Burundi depends on the country’s ability to integrate itself into East and Central African markets, years of conflict have destroyed Burundi’s productive enterprises and ruptured domestic and regional market linkages. While Burundi is largely rural, opportunities for trade in value-added agricultural products exist, though Burundi’s private sector is underdeveloped and uncompetitive, and Burundians lack business resources and managerial and marketing skills. Activities will provide training to Burundian entrepreneurs on regulatory requirements and marketing and technical assistance to help producers connect to domestic and regional markets, laying a foundation over the next five years for an increase in the value of Burundian products as well as for more diversified economic growth.
Agriculture
90% of Burundians are engaged in farming, and increases in agricultural productivity are critical to broad-based economic growth in the country. Yet Burundi has one of the lowest levels of agricultural production in the world. Subsistence farming practices have resulted in chronic poverty and food insecurity, which has been exacerbated by drought and diseases affecting Burundi’s staple crops. Storage facilities are largely unavailable, and market access is hampered by poor infrastructure. By assisting local communities and producers’ organizations to share improved agricultural practices and inputs, diversify agricultural production and improve storage, transport and marketing systems, over the next five years local food insecurity will be reduced and rural income will be increased through the growth of value added agriculture.
Private Sector Competitiveness
Land scarcity and unproductive farming practices make the diversification of economic opportunity key to sustainable economic development in Burundi, yet there are few other opportunities available for the 90% of Burundians who live in rural areas. Rural economic growth is further constrained by a workforce lacking in basic and technical skills, which inhibits enterprise creation and growth. Yet there are currently few resources available for vocational education. Activities will fund vocational skills training and enterprise creation in rural areas, thus increasing remunerative off-farm employment at the community level. This will lead over the next five years to greater economic competitiveness while also relieving pressure on limited land resources and alleviating the conflict that stems from resource scarcity and poverty.
Economic Opportunity
High levels of poverty and population growth rates have made enterprise and employment generation critical to continued stability in Burundi. Yet Burundi’s private sector consists almost entirely of small enterprises, Burundi’s microfinance system is poorly developed, and entrepreneurs lack business management, marketing and financial skills. Activities will provide business development services and grants in kind to small rural enterprises in targeted areas, while related programs will support microfinance providers in increasing their client base by extending credit to these enterprises. As a result, over the next five years Burundi’s microfinance sector will grow, enabling Burundi’s rural poor to become more integrated in the country’s economy and contribute to Burundi’s social and economic recovery.