Burundi

Caring for livestock is a key part of Oxfam’s Integrated Farm Planning mission in rural Burundi. Here, Calinie and her family learned how to take better care of its livestock, they now know to efficiently use manure to fertilize crops. Credit: Lisa Murray/Oxfam

Years of violence have forced hundreds of thousands of Burundians from their homes and sources of income, deepening food insecurity and increasing poverty levels particularly for rural populations across the country. Available data suggests that 1 in 4 people is food insecure and 1 in 6 children under five years is chronically malnourished.

Oxfam in Burundi

Oxfam has been working in Burundi since the 1990s. Our work was initially focused on humanitarian interventions, but it has been progressively shifted towards reconstruction and development.

Creating sustainable livelihoods 
Working in six provinces in Burundi, Oxfam's work aims to improve people's access to food and build up their resilience to future shocks. Through sustainable agricultural techniques, farmers are equipped with the knowledge to increase their produce and income and ultimately become more self-sufficient. The farmer-to-farmer approach creates an opportunity for skills-share beyond those targeted by the project.

Reducing disasters
Our resilience work also aims to increase the capacities of local organizations, authorities, and communities enabling them to effectively mitigate and respond to disaster-related risks. 

Addressing conflicts
Our conflict transformation work aims to help local communities address the root causes of conflict, promote peaceful coexistence and reintegration of marginalized groups such as ex-combatants, back into society.

We also work with civil society organizations to ensure that people better understand their rights and are able to hold their duty bearers to account to deliver on their responsibilities.