UNCDF in Burundi

Nature, climate and peace financing: the Kibira Peace and Forest programme

Launched in 2021, the Kibira Peace and Forest Sanctuary is a joint initiative of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the UN Peacebuilding Fund, and the Nature Investment Facility — a partnership between UNCDF, UNDP, and UNESCO — in collaboration with the Government of Burundi.

Within Burundi, the programme works with the Office Burundais pour la Protection de l’Environnement (OBPE), the Kibira Foundation, Hydroneo, Communities of Hope (COH), and Conservation Communauté de Changement (3C) to address instability and environmental degradation in and around Kibira National Park.

At the centre of this effort is the establishment of the Kibira Foundation and a first-of-its-kind co-management agreement with OBPE, designed to promote sustainable park management and catalyse investments in nature-positive businesses.

The programme uses blended finance, including a USD1.5 million investment in the Mpanda hydropower public-private partnership, to accelerate financing and generate a self-sustaining revenue stream for the Kibira Foundation through a Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme. This model supports renewable energy production, local job creation, and nature-positive enterprises such as ecotourism.

By leveraging Kibira’s natural assets, the programme supports long-term biodiversity conservation, local leadership, and green economic transformation in Burundi. It also emphasizes community integration and the empowerment of women and Batwa communities, strengthening social cohesion and sustainable livelihoods.

Community members support forest restoration and sustainable livelihoods around Kibira National Park through the Kibira Peace and Forest programme in Burundi. Photo: COH.

Through partnerships with local financial institutions, UNCDF enables women‑led enterprises and cooperatives to access credit and invest in resilient food production. Photo: UNCDF.

Sustainable food systems financing: expanding access to finance for smallholder farmers

UNCDF’s approach to sustainable food systems financing centres on empowering smallholder farmers, women-led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and local cooperatives.

With an investment of USD 470,000, UNCDF is addressing financing gaps and leveraging partnerships, including with the Bank of Women, to help marginalized groups access productive resources that drive inclusive economic growth and strengthen food security. Since 2022, this collaboration has enabled 46 women-led businesses to obtain loans, helping them overcome barriers such as a lack of collateral.

Through targeted support to Village Savings and Credit Associations and women’s cooperatives, UNCDF strengthens grassroots financial ecosystems and early-stage market development. These investments in MSMEs and agribusinesses stimulate local economies and contribute to commune-level GDP growth.

Ultimately, more inclusive financing fosters diversified and sustainable food production while reducing post-harvest losses and enhancing climate resilience.