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Peacebuilding Challenges
Since independence in 1961, Burundi has experienced successive violent conflicts, in 1965, 1969, 1972, 1988 and 1993 – 2004. These political conflicts with ethnic undertones claimed more than 300,000 lives and displaced over 1 million people. They disrupted the social fabric and trust among Burundians, ruined the economy, and perpetuated a culture of violence and impunity in society. After a period of relative political stability and economic growth, the 2015 political crisis undermined the progress achieved since the signing of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in 2000 and the elections of 2005 and 2010. The political crisis had a heavy impact on the population, as the socioeconomic situation in Burundi continued to deteriorate.
PBF Intervention
Until 2014, PBF has supported the return to peace after civil war through strengthening governance and rule of law. Security sector reform was also a key component of the peace process, along with reintegration of militias, support to the judicial system and safeguarding of human rights. PBF support also concentrated on reconciliation and the reintegration of populations affected by the conflict, such as internally displaced persons and repatriated refugees. In response to the issues directly affecting the population, the third 20142018 Peacebuilding Priority Plan (PPP), revised to take into account the 2015 events, focuses on three priority areas that complement each other: political dialogue and social cohesion; positive youth participation in political and social life; democratic exercise of human rights.
PBF Impact
The most notable progress was made in the engagement of youth, who were at the center of clashes between political factions in 2015. National dialogue initiatives as well as the establishment of a network of women mediators were equally successful and a noteworthy example of PBF impact. PBF partners trained 516 women mediators coordinated by 18 focal points at the provincial level. This network extends all the way to the local level, with more than 14,000 members in 2950 networks at the hill level (Noyaux de base Collinaires). The mediators held 12,000 dialogue sessions, addressing close to 5000 conflicts, with a successful resolution in more than 60% of cases. Building on the success of this initiative, the PBF has recently approved a cost-extension of USD $600,000 that will add another 100 women mediators to the existing network. To ensure alignment with Security Council and international partners’ decisions, the project also supports dialogue activities around the Action Plan 2017-2021 and the implementation of Resolution 1325 at the local, national, regional (African Union), and sub-regional (East African Community) levels.
Promoting Cohesion
PBF bridges the humanitarian, peace and development nexus by supporting a USD $3 million interagency project with UNHCR, UNDP, UNFPA and FAO, which supports the reintegration of Burundian refugees returning from Tanzania. The project focuses on the four communes in Burundi with the highest number of expected returnees to increase protection, access to basic services as well as livelihoods for returnees and members of host communities.
Burundi has been one of the most diverse PBF portfolios. It was the first country to see direct PBF support to the African Union (AU). The PBF was also the first donor to the UN Great Lakes Cross-Border Multi-Partner Trust Fund for the cross-border project between Burundi and Tanzania. Apart from a broad range of UN agencies that were supported, two CSOs were awarded grants under the 2017 Gender and Youth Promotion Initiative.
Working with the PBC
The PBC has been very engaged in Burundi since October 2006: achievements include two successful donor conferences co-sponsored by the Chair of the PBC in 2007 (Norway) and in 2012 (Switzerland). Since the eruption of the current crisis in 2015, the PBC aimed at preventing the crisis from escalating and restoring trust between the Government of Burundi and its main international partners. More recently, the PBC organized discussions on the economic impact of the political crisis in Burundi, including socioeconomic consultations in Geneva, briefings with officials from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, Government authorities in charge of finances and economy, and the Burundian private sector.
Catalytic Effect
PBF supported the deployment of 32 AU Human Rights observers with USD $2.25 million in 2016-17. This initial funding in turn allowed for the mobilization of EU contributions to facilitate the deployment of AU observers with €7.85 million for the period November 2016 to October 2017. PBF-financed youth engagement projects have developed a model that has helped mobilize additional resources, e.g. a USD $1.1m dollar UNDP project, cofinanced by Japan.
About the PBF
The UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) is the organization’s financial instrument of first resort to sustain peace in countries or situations at risk or affected by violent conflict. The PBF may invest with UN entities, governments, regional organizations, multilateral banks, national multi-donor trust funds or civil society organizations. From 2006 to 2017, the PBF has allocated $772 million to 41 recipient countries. Since inception, 58 member states contributed to the Fund, 33 in the present 2017-2019 Business Plan. The PBF works across pillars and supports integrated UN responses to fill critical gaps; respond quickly and with flexibility to political opportunities; and catalyze processes and resources in a risk-tolerant fashion.