“Uwaruka Mushasha” (New Generation): Improving the Well-Being of Vulnerable Girls and Boys in Burundi

Implementing Partner: International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Funding Period: October 2009 – September 2012

Amount: $2,384,010

Purpose: Improve the safety, well-being, and development of highly vulnerable girls and boys in the conflict-affected provinces of Bujumbura Rural and Makamba, Burundi

Objectives

• Families have increased financial assets
• Children are active participants in defining their wellbeing, and families can describe techniques to protect children

As a result

• Families use their economic resources to support children's safety, well-being and development
• Families promote child well-being and prevent and respond to neglect, abuse and exploitation
• Children attend school
• Children are free from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation
• Children are healthy and well-fed
• Children feel happy and safe
• Children have increased “agency” or control over choices in their own lives

The “Urwaruka Rushasha” (New Generation) project aims to improve the safety, well-being, and development of highly vulnerable girls and boys in the conflict-affected provinces of Bujumbura Rural and Makamba, Burundi. The project uses an intervention strategy that combines economic strengthening activities (namely formation of village savings and loans associations (VSLA) and linkages to micro-finance institutions) with a series of in-depth discussions with VSLA members, encouraging families to devote more resources to the safety, development, and well-being of the children in their care. The discussion series, based on “Healing Families and Communities,” modules, will be delivered by a team of highly skilled child protection officers, and includes a number of participatory exercises with both children and adults.

Monitoring and evaluation is also an important component of the project. Through a randomized impact evaluation, supported by a Yale University scholar, the project aims to answer critical questions in the child protection and economic development fields:

• Is money enough to improve Burundian families' support for their children's well-being?
• What, if any, additional benefit to children is derived by including specific child-focused activities, e.g., the discussion series?