Burundi is a small land-locked country emerging from a decade of civil conflict. Since 1994, 300,000 people have lost their lives; 1.4 million people have been internally displaced or have sought refuge in other countries.
In 2006, WFP, other United Nations agencies, the Government, donors and non-governmental organizations reviewed needs, priorities and strategies. A programme review mission and the joint WFP/Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees/Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations needs assessment mission in April 2006 recommended programme adjustments.
The assessments recognized that the continuing food insecurity called for support and recommended a progressive shift from targeted relief to recovery activities for the most food-insecure provinces and vulnerable groups. The Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Assessment of 2004 will be updated by mid-2007. Other studies to guide programme design include a trade and commodity markets study in September 2006 and a labour markets study in early 2007.
Food aid will assist food-insecure households to invest in rural livelihoods, nutrition and education. Assistance for refugees, asylum seekers and returnees will continue. Targeted relief will be distributed to the households indicated by joint assessments and in government appeals; 70 percent of resources will be targeted to the most food-insecure north and northeastern provinces.
Capacity-building for institutions and communities will be a priority; gender and HIV/AIDS will be mainstreamed. The development of collaborative programmes will introduce integrated longer-term development programmes, enabling an orderly reduction and eventual phase-out of food aid.
