Overcoming Violence and Poverty through Empowered Local Governments

A new UNCDF & UNDP programme in Burundi to promote peace and good governance

3 January 2007: The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF, together with the UN Development Programme and the Government of Burundi, has launched the Support to Reconstruction and Local Development Programme in Rutana Province Programme. The programme aims to promote social development and economic growth and to put in place a poverty reduction policy that is sustainable, efficient and locally-owned. It is expected to benefit 275,000 people living in six communes of Rutana Province.

The US$6.2 million programme, cofunded by UNCDF ($1.5 million), UNDP ($500,000) and the Government of Burundi ($200,000) will combine a range of short, medium and long term initiatives, both at national, district (commune) and sub-district level. UNCDF is currently consulting a possible collaboration with several other development partners with a view to raise the additional $4 million needed for the programme to be fully funded.

UNCDF Director of Local Development, Kadmiel Wekwete, said the programme will harness the UNCDF model of local development programmes currently being implemented in Least Developed Countries throughout Africa and Asia. "Known locally by its French name, Programme d'Appui à la Reconstruction et au Développement Communal dans la Province de Rutana, the initiative will also assist the Government in defining appropriate laws and regulatory frameworks at the national level," he said.

The launch ceremony on 14 December, chaired by Mr. Joseph Nsabiyumva, Head of Cabinet of the Ministry for the Interior and Public Safety, and attended by representatives from Local Authorities, UN Agencies and civil society organizations, welcomed the five-year UNCDF/UNDP programme.

Burundi has been caught in a cycle of construction, destruction and re-construction. Since its independence in 1962, the country has faced severe civil instability, with different waves of violence. Since 1993, a civil conflict caused by a combination of social, political and economic factors has had a tragic impact on local livelihoods. The conflict has forced many people into extreme poverty and has led to the collapse of social and economic infrastructure and services. The recurrence of war has created extreme uncertainty, which, in turn, has affected economic activity through an extremely low level of private investment and high credit costs.

After many years of instability, hope has once again returned to the region. After the Arusha Peace Accord signed in 2002 by the Government and 19 different political movements, the country has embarked on a comprehensive programme of reconstruction, peace and poverty reduction. Decentralization and good governance constitute the two basic pillars of this effort. The Constitution has been revised, new electoral procedures have been established and a new 'communal law' has defined the status and the roles of subnational political and administrative structures. Moreover, local elections have been held in June 2005, and legislative and presidential elections took place in July and August 2005.

The situation is however still very fluid and needs action: in Burundi, post-election periods have always been characterized by civil unrest. At present, thousands of people (those who fled the country or joined the armed rebellion) have still to be reintegrated. It is within this context that the UNCDF/UNDP programme will be implemented.

"The Programme will stress the role and functions of the freely and democratically elected local governments in creating a social, economic, administrative and institutional framework conducive to poverty reduction and economic growth," said UNCDF Regional Technical Advisor Angelo Bonfiglioli. "The role of local governments in stimulating rural economies will be highlighted, through a range of initiatives aimed at intensifying agricultural activities, diversifying rural economy, creating rural employment, raising the income of rural households, and reducing households' vulnerability to food crises."

Ulrik Kristensen, UNCDF Regional Programme Manager said achieving the MDGs in a country like Burundi is contingent on building institutions for local development and establishing effective and durable means to provide health care, education and other social services. "In spite of its political commitment, Burundi is still fragile and its political and administrative structures still lack capacity to deliver public safety and security, good governance and poverty reduction to their citizens," he said.

"With this programme, UNCDF and UNDP will support a long-term vision by focusing on institution building and the capacity of legitimate and accountable local institutions to perform core functions and to provide an enabling environment for economic performance to generate incomes, employment and revenues."

More information on UNCDF's programmes in Burundi is available at: http://www.uncdf.org/english/countries/burundi/index.php.