ActionAid Burundi

ActionAid is a global movement of people working together to further human rights for all and defeat poverty. We believe everyone has the power within them to create change for themselves, their families and communities. ActionAid is a catalyst for that change.

ActionAid works in over 45 countries with over 15 million people worldwide. We have a ‘bottom up approach to decision-making, and uniquely, our head office is located in Africa. We have hubs in Asia, The Americas and Europe too.

ActionAid began work in Burundi in 1976. We work with the poorest and most excluded people, helping them to earn an income, grow food, and raise awareness of women's and girls' rights. In particular, we support the Batwa community, Burundi's indigenous people, who traditionally work as servants and don't have access to public services.

Helping farmers grow food
Climate change, recurring natural hazards, land scarcity, and conflict have led to widespread displacement of farmers and a loss of livestock in Burundi. A shortage of good quality seeds means thousands of farmers are forced to use seeds that are prone to disease. As a result, many harvests are ruined and people go hungry.

ActionAid provides small-scale farmers with the training and tools they need to grow and multiply quality seeds, thus producing a better crop.

Through this support, we're helping hundreds of women to feed their children, as well as sell extra crops to pay for school fees and medicine.

Helping young people  on the road to self-employment
Unemployment is high in Burundi. One out of two educated young people and 60% of those who haven’t had been to school can’t find employment and don’t have the opportunity to learn vocational skills.

ActionAid helps young people to set up their own businesses by providing training in basic business management.

Raising awareness of women's rights
One in five girls in Burundi are married by their 18th birthday1 . Often these marriages are informal, or polygamous, meaning women can easily be abandoned by their husbands with several children and no means to support themselves. 

ActionAid has been working with the Batwa community, Burundi's indigenous people to raise awareness of women's and children’s rights, including the risks of informal and polygamous marriage.

We support couples to legalise their marriage and receive marriage certificates to provide women with greater marriage security.

By providing training and financial support to women farmers associations, we’re also helping women to make their own money and become more independent.