Burundi

Adding to the pressure on Burundi’s stretched resources, over 50,000 refugees, mainly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, are hosted in already food-insecure areas and rely on assistance for basic food and nutrition.

Competition over scarce resources is further compounded by the return of Burundian refugees from neighbouring countries following peaceful elections in May 2020.  

Only 32 percent of Burundi’s children complete their lower secondary education. Although women play a central role in the development of the country, gender equality is among the lowest in the world. The majority of the country’s poor are in rural areas, where 90 percent of people rely heavily on subsistence agriculture and informal employment. A hilly landscape makes the country vulnerable to climate-related shocks such as flooding.

In 2015, a socio-economic crisis linked to political developments resulted in donors suspending direct budget support, leading to a 50 percent decrease in the national budget. The peaceful general elections in May 2020 and the subsequent political developments fostered improved cooperation with the international community, recognizing Burundi as a country with a huge potential for development.

COVID-19 infection and transmission rates remain relatively low but communities living in areas bordering neighbouring countries have lost livelihoods due to the disruption of informal cross-border trade following restrictions on movement to contain the pandemic.

Working in conjunction with United Nations partners, the World Food Programme (WFP) supports the Government of Burundi’s immediate and longer-term priorities by addressing the root causes of malnutrition, providing life-saving support to vulnerable people and improving resilience through activities including school meals, capacity strengthening, gender equality and building sustainable food systems.