Context:

A landlocked country in East Africa, Burundi is ranked among the poorest countries in the world, with one of the highest population densities (around 560 inhabitants/km²). Ranked 187th out of 193 countries on the Human Development Index (HDI), 72.8% of the population lives below the poverty line (less than USD 1.90/day), with limited access to basic services such as drinking water, healthcare and education.

In recent years, the country has been going through a socio-political crisis, which has led to an economic recession marked by shortages of basic necessities such as sugar, fuel and cement, as well as a crisis in the transport sector.

Burundi continues to face major structural challenges, including a fragile economy, persistent food insecurity and devastating climatic impacts.
Although arable land is limited and access to quality agricultural inputs remains inadequate, agriculture remains the mainstay of the Burundian economy, providing the main source of subsistence for over 80% of households. The nutritional situation remains critical: some 56% of children under the age of five suffer from stunted growth due to chronic malnutrition, one of the highest rates in the world.

The country is also continuing to manage the return of more than 415,000 Burundian refugees, who fled to neighbouring countries following the violence in 2015, mainly from Tanzania, requiring sustained efforts for their social and economic reintegration.

  • Figure 1. ©Gabriele Andrea
  • Figure 2. Nutrition plan. ©Gabriele Andrea
  • Figure 3. Support to the health system.
  • Figure 4. Example of contribution in the WASH sector.

Our answer

WeWorld has been working in Burundi since 1995 to meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable people. Our interventions mainly cover the sectors of nutrition, health, food security and water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH).

These programmes aim to strengthen the resilience of rural communities, improve the nutritional status of women and children, and contribute to sustainable access to basic social services in a context marked by poverty, chronic food insecurity, the effects of climate change and population movements.

Nutrition is WeWorld's historical sector in Burundi, with significant and recognised expertise: our actions began with the management of acute malnutrition, and were then aligned with an approach that requires the participation and effective commitment of the community and various health structures.

Our approach is based on an integrated, participatory and multi-sectoral approach, which places inclusion, sustainability and respect for national policies at the heart of its actions. We work in close collaboration with local authorities, health facilities, community associations and technical partners to ensure local ownership and sustainability.

  • Preventing and combating chronic malnutrition,
  • Improving access to a diversified diet by promoting family vegetable gardens,
  • Supporting income-generating activities for women and young people via village savings and loan associations,
  • Improving access to drinking water and sanitation in rural areas,
  • Supporting community health structures, sexual and reproductive health and mental health,
  • Supporting displaced people, refugees and returnees who have lost their means of subsistence.

 These actions are taking place against a backdrop of growing challenges linked to the climate crisis (flooding, loss of arable land), food insecurity, structural poverty and the increase in migratory flows, particularly with the recent arrival of thousands of Congolese refugees fleeing the violence in the east of the DRC.