Introduction
Since the political crisis in 2015, Burundi has faced political instability and economic decline. Space for political dialogue has been lacking, human rights violations are persistent and people’s trust in the government is at a low level. With the general decrease in national income, poverty increased. There are shortages of basic products and foreign currency, and business activity has slumped.
The Netherlands contributes to eliminating the main drivers of conflict in Burundi:
Chronic food insecurity, malnutrition and the negative impact of climate change on agricultural production
Rapid population growth, gender inequality and gender-based violence
The lack of prospects and employment for young people
Fragile political governance.
To achieve this, the focus has been on:
The empowerment of farmer families through agricultural development and private sector development, in particular where the two overlap;
The empowerment of women and youths by making sexual and reproductive health information, products and services widely available;
The development of job skills and the creation of employment opportunities and other opportunities for income generation;
Strengthening the voice and participation of citizens at various levels in society by supporting participation in dialogue with the government and through reconciliation efforts.