Burundi Peacebuilding Fund Overview

Overview | Approved Projects and Progress Updates | Reports

In its country specific meeting of 13 October 2006, the Peacebuilding Commission formally declared Burundi as eligible to receive support from the PBF. This declaration set into motion the allocation and disbursement process described in the Terms of Reference of the PBF. In deciding to recommend Burundi as a recipient under the Peacebuilding Fund, members of the Peacebuilding Commission highlighted a number of key priorities where a lack of progress could hamper further consolidation of peace, including good governance, implementation of the ceasefire, socio-economic recovery, security-sector reform, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants, human rights, unemployment and judiciary reform.

The Peacebuilding Commission recommended, in December 2006, that an allocation of at least US$ 25 million be granted to Burundi in support of its peacebuilding programme. The Priority Plan was subsequently finalized by the Government of Burundi and the United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB) and fully endorsed by the Head of the Peacebuilding Support Office, following a review by the Senior Policy Group Peacebuilding. On 29 January 2007, the Secretary-General formally announced that an allocation over US$35 million from the Peacebuilding Fund had been made towards Burundi, during his address to the summit of the African Union.

Burundi PBF Priority Plan

The Burundi PBF Priority Plan (unofficial translation in English) identifies the following priority areas:

• Governance
• Strengthening Rule of Law and the Security Sector
• Strengthening Rule of Law and the Protection of Human Rights
• Property/Land Issues

Burundi PBF Steering Committee

With the country funding envelope confirmed, the review and approval of project activities is being conducted in Burundi in a process co-managed by the Government of Burundi and BINUB who co-chair the Burundi PBF Steering Committee. The Steering Committee has been established at the country level to serve as the decision-making body to review and approve detailed project submissions, within the scope of the priority plan.

Further information on the Burundi PBF Steering Committee, including its membership, terms of reference and rules of procedure, is available in the Burundi PBF Steering Committee Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedures.

News & Updates

Second Consolidated Annual Progress Report on Activities Implemented under the Peacebuilding Fund (2008)
New York, 14 July 2008 - The UNDP MDTF Office, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent of the Peacebuilding Fund, presented today the "Second Consolidated Annual Progress Report on Activities Implemented under the Peacebuilding Fund (2008)". Part II of the Annual Progress Report includes a separate Section I: Burundi.

Presentation on the Peacebuilding Fund in Burundi
New York, 5 Mar 2008 - The second meeting of the PBF Advisory Group was convened on 5-6 March 2008. Prior to the meeting, the Permanent Mission of Finland to the UN convened a Seminar entitled "Catalytic Action for Peacebuilding: Examples of the UN Peacebuilding Fund", co-chaired by HE Ms Marjatta Rasi, Under-Secretary of State for Development in FInland and Chair of the PBF Advisory Group, and HE Ms Carmen María Gallardo Hernández, Permanent Representative of El Salvador to the UN and Vice-Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission. During the Seminar, presentations were made on Burundi by H.E. Ambassador Nahayo, Permanent Mission of Burundi to the UN, and on Liberia by HE Ms Estelle K. Liberty, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Government of Liberia. A summary of the Seminar is available here.

Launch of PBF Burundi Project
Bujumbura, 18 Feb 2008 - Official launch of the PBF-financed project «Appui à la mise en place et au fonctionnement de cadres de dialogue et de concertation entre les partenaires nationaux».

Further PBF projects approved in Burundi
Bujumbura, 13 June 2007 - The Burundi PBF Steering Committee has approved two additional projects with UNIFEM and UNDP as Recipient UN Organizations.

Additional Burundi PBF projects approved
Bujumbura, 10 May 2007 - The Burundi PBF Steering Committee has approved an additional three projects for funding in the PBF Priority Areas of Democratic Governance, Security and Human Rights.

Secretary-General's address to the Summit of the African Union 29 January 2007 - The Secretary-General formally announces the allocation of US$35 million from the Peacebuilding Fund towards Burundi during his address to the Summit of the African Union.

UN Peacebuilding Commission unveils plans for first grants to Burundi, Sierra Leone
13 December 2006 - The recently created United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, set up to help post-conflict countries avoid a relapse into bloodshed, has announced it expects to give $25 million each to Burundi and Sierra Leone as part of its first round of contributions.

UN’s Peacebuilding Commission recommends Burundi for Fund support
16 October 2006 - The United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, in its second country-specific meeting, has decided to recommend strife-torn Burundi for assistance from a recently set-up Fund that aims to help countries emerging from conflict to rebuild and avoid descending again into bloodshed.