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The people of Burundi are heading to the polls to elect their first parliament and president since a civil war began in 1993. This report explores how IFAD-initiated Community Development Committees contribute to democratic processes and peace building by putting economic decision-making power in the hands of poor villagers.

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After 10 years of Civil War, Burundians Will go to the Polls in April to Elect a New Parliament and President | Languages: English, French

Development assistance can offer people an alternative to conflict in countries disabled by war. This report explores the impact that economic development had in several provinces in Burundi during the country's 10-year civil war and the need for continued international support since the war has ended.
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Burundi’s devastating civil war left rural communities to face the loss of many family members and of almost all of their livestock as well. The country’s depleted soils barely secure adequate yields and, without fertilizers, farmers struggle to meet basic subsistence requirements. Working through community-based organizations, the IFAD-supported Rural Recovery and Development Programme (PRDMR) introduced an innovative revolving livestock scheme that helps increase incomes by using livestock manure to fertilize the land and boost crop productivity.

After 10 years of civil war, Burundians are ready for lasting peace. This IFAD documentary, co-produced with the Television Trust for the Environment (TVE) for broadcast on BBC World, follows the stories of three people who are attempting to rebuild their lives. Through their stories, the film explores the larger challenges that face the country and the role that international development can play in preventing conflict from re-igniting.

One hundred girl guides in two villages in Burundi are the proud new owners of 1,000 chicks. The chicks, as well as all the material necessary to start fruit and vegetable gardens, were provided by the TeleFood Fund.

A pair of newborn twin boys lie sleeping in a cot covered with a white mosquito net at Maison Shalom. They sleep as babies do, deeply, despite the fact that their mother died when they were born. It is another day at Maison Shalom with children playing and laughing outside on the grass.

Isador arrived with his brother Melchior in Karago camp in a remote region of Western Tanzania in March 2000. Their story is not clear. They do not know how old they are or what part of Burundi they came from. All that is known is that their parents were killed in an attack on their home, after which they fled across the border to the refugee camps. Isador, the younger of the two, has barely spoken a word since.

Africare's USAID-funded Karusi Food Security Initiative in Burundi provides communities with options for productive livelihoods through economic activities, primarily in agriculture. These activities are designed to reverse environmental land degradation, protect the soils against erosion and establish local means to protect soil fertility. By addressing household food security needs, the project is helping set the stage for longer-term productivity and income gains in the rural sector. Vulnerable populations are able to reduce malnutrition and the adoption of improved technologies and planting materials leads to a distinct increase in the area planted with improved crops.

Since its independence in 1962, Burundi has struggled with violence, assassinations and coups d'etat. Political extremism attached itself to ethnicity, creating fear, mistrust and panic among the people, shattering their ethnic harmony and coexistence. Neighbour turned on neighbour. But not everyone succumbed to the madness.

In 2000, visitors from Global Rights came to my community in Muyinga to talk about how they wanted to help people resolve their problems through legal clinics. They suggested that we elect persons from our colline (hill) whom we regarded as leaders, to be trained in problem solving at the community level. In selecting these people, we were asked to take into account integrity, morals, and the person’s capacity to relate to others. We also were asked to specifically consider the inclusion of the women and minorities among us.

Salut! This is an update from Burundi just over halfway through my mission. Burundi is experiencing a period of uneasy calm at the moment. The main rebel group, the CNDD-FDD, is in the process of integrating into the government, the police force and the army. The other smaller rebel group, the FNL, has finally decided to make the first moves towards negotiations. This means that the nightly bombardments around the capital Bujumbura ceased about three weeks ago.