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USAID/OTI Burundi Program Fact Sheet

January 2004
FY 2002 Budget - $2,100,000
FY 2003 - $2,200,000

The U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) began its Burundi Program in March 2002 in response to the August 2001 signing of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement (APRA) by 17 Hutu and Tutsi parties and the November 2001 establishment of a transitional government. These two events were significant steps toward the ending of nearly a decade of civil war. OTI’s Burundi Program was designed to support the transition to peace and democracy as articulated in APRA by building momentum for the implementation of the Accord and by promoting a culture of peace and justice.

Between March 2002 and August 2003, OTI promoted good governance and the active and informed participation of citizens in Burundi by supporting activities that increased discussions among people of diverse ethnic groups about common public issues; and by encouraging government institutions at all levels to be more transparent and accountable to their constituents. OTI supported the Burundi Initiative for Peace (BIP), which was implemented with the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) and provided small grants to encourage popular support for APRA and the transitional government. Through its Legislative Strengthening Initiative, OTI and its implementing partners, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI), worked closely with the National Assembly and the Senate to enhance awareness among Burundian legislators of their roles and responsibilities under APRA and to increase dialogue and cooperation among legislators from different political parties. Through the initiative, OTI also encouraged representatives to undertake outreach initiatives to increase public dialogue and participation. OTI collaborated with the Ministries of Interior, Good Governance, Communications and Mobilization for Peace in some of their efforts. In addition, OTI provided support to a variety of mass media organizations to produce programs in support of the peace process and reconciliations efforts.

Since December 2002, the peace process has advanced considerably. Most significantly, in November 2003, the transitional Government of Burundi and the main Hutu rebel group, the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD), finalized their power-sharing agreement, and the CNDD-FDD joined the transitional government. With only one rebel group remaining outside of the peace process and security improved in the majority of the country, concerns are shifting to local capacities to reintegrate refugees, internally displaced persons and ex-combatants, whose returns are expected to increase significantly in the upcoming months. In response, OTI is redesigning its program to support community reintegration through community-based leadership development, vocational skills training, small-scale infrastructure reconstruction, and the accurate, balanced and timely dissemination of information via the media. OTI’s anticipates this new program will begin in February 2004.

For further information, please contact:
In Washington, D.C.: Carlisle J. Levine, Program Manager at 202-712-0955 or clevine@usaid.gov