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DFID Burundi: Immeuble old east building,
Avenue du 18 September, Bujumbura, Burundi
Tel:+257 246500 | Fax: + 257 246499
Map courtesy of the FCO
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Burundi
Related pages: Burundi and the International Health Partnership
News and Events
 Image courtesy of
Richard Lewis/Crown Copyright
In May 2007, the Government hosted a donor Conference to present its Action
Programme for delivery of its first PRSP. The response was good. Donors are now
working with Government on implementation.
On September 05 2007 Burundi became one of seven "first wave" countries to
join the International Health
Partnership (IHP). The IHP aims to improve the way that international
agencies, donors and poor countries work together to develop and implement
health plans, creating and improving health services for poor people and
ultimately saving more lives. Burundi will shortly sign a country level compact
with its development partners, which will commit them to supporting national
health plans for the first time.
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Economic and Political Summary
Burundi is a small land-locked country in central Africa and lies just south
of the equator. It is bordered by Rwanda,
Tanzania and the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC). Its population is around 6.8 million.
Since gaining independence from Belgium in 1962, Burundi has gone through
periods of ethnic conflict. More than half a million people have been killed and
many more have fled to settle in neighbouring countries.
The many years of conflict caused divisions between ethnic groups and
widespread poverty. Burundi has been classified by the World Bank as the fourth
least developed country in the world. 68% of its population lives below the
poverty line. Access to medical care and even basic foodstuffs are limited in
large parts of the country.
A peace agreement was signed in 2000 which put in place a transitional
government to prepare for elections. These were held in 2005. The new President,
Pierre Nkurunziza, was sworn in on 25 August. On 7 September 2006 the government signed
a comprehensive ceasefire agreement with the last remaining rebel group (the FNL)
but implementation is stalled. Countries in the region are now working together
with the South African facilitation to find a way forward
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Burundi and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
 Image courtesy of Sonya Maldar
The
years of war set Burundi back considerably over the 1990s, putting the country
in a difficult position to meet the MDGs. Poverty worsened, incomes shrank, inequality widened
and Government's ability to deliver basic services, particularly in health and
education, was almost completely destroyed.
As a result infant and child mortality rates increased they remain
amongst the highest in the world), and Burundi's previously good access to
primary education fell sharply. While there is a danger that Burundi will
not meet these MDGs, there have been encouraging signs of Government's
commitment to reverse the decline.
Since the Government’s announcement of fee-free primary school education
in August 2005, they have been working with partners on the development of a
10-year strategy to reach the education MDGs. In May 2006 the
President announced fee-free treatment for childbirth and children under five.
Tackling infant, child and maternal mortality are key areas of Burundi's
National Health Sector Strategy. Both these policies have already had an effect,
greatly increasing demand. Providing help with government planning, budgeting
and financial management will be as important as financial support in meeting
this.
The Government's PRSP recognises that data quality and availability is low in Burundi.
This will need to be tackled to monitor implementation of the PRSP as well as to
track progress against the MDGs over the coming years.
DFID In Burundi
DFID committed £10 million to Burundi for financial year 2007/2008.
The main areas of assistance over the next two years will be:
- Supporting primary education;
- Supporting improved health access and management;
- Supporting programmes of good governance;
- Supporting programmes to tackle HIV and provide assistance to
orphans and vulnerable children;
- Immediate humanitarian response.
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Links
Last updated: 07 January 2008
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