Program Description
Program Goals and Objectives
USAID/OTI's goal in Burundi is to instill good governance and the active and informed participation of citizens. To work towards this goal, OTI has the following objectives:
- To increase active and informed discussions
among people of diverse ethnic groups about common public issues.
- To encourage the evolution of government institutions at all levels to be more transparent and accountable.
To achieve these objectives, USAID/OTI is supporting:
Burundi Initiative for Peace
The Burundi Initiative for Peace (BIP), implemented with the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), provides a series of small grants to encourage popular support for APRA and for the transitional government. The small grants program works in targeted geographic areas to support activities that maintain the momentum for peace.
COUNTRY SITUATION
In his first cabinet meeting on May 8, President Ndayizeye outlined his priorities for the next eighteen months. They are: the negotiation of a durable cease-fire; resumption of international aid; and laying the groundwork for general elections. While there has not been a reaction from the Ministers that has appeared in the press, there have been reports that they are satisfied with where the President is leading the country and believe that things are moving forward smoothly.
In an effort to kick start the resumption of peace talks, Ndayizeye visited the Heads of State of Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in May to discuss a way forward in ending the current conflict and solicit their support in bringing the rebel groups to the negotiating table. Warmly received by all three Heads of State, Ndayizeye received assurances from the Presidents that they would support the peace process in Burundi and encourage the leaders of both the CNDD/FDD and FNL to negotiate. It is anticipated that a regional summit to address issues surrounding the cease-fire signed in December 2002 will be held in June in Dar-es-Salaam. The leaders of the rebel groups will be invited to this summit.
Rebel attacks on the capital Bujumbura have decreased, but fighting between the Burundian armed forces and the CNDD/FDD rebel group has increased in the provinces causing between 15,000 - 20,000 people to be temporarily displaced. Even though a negotiated ceasefire between the CNDD-FDD (Nkurinziza) and the Government of Burundi has been consistently violated by both sides, reengaging the CNDD-FDD (Nkurinziza) in continued peace negotiations is a primary focus of the new government.
HIGHLIGHTS
A. Narrative Summary
The National Outreach Program has now been completed. The purpose of this program was to provide an opportunity for the parliamentarians to visit with their constituents, some of whom had never done so before. Historically, a huge disconnect has existed between the leaders of the country and the population, which was exacerbated by the war and the parliamentarians' inability to travel. This program, which was funded at the request of the parliamentarians, got off to a difficult start because they refused to travel together to their respective provinces. A condition for funding was that all parliamentarians, regardless of ethnicity or political persuasion, would travel to their provinces together in order to demonstrate unity. At first the parliamentarians were reluctant to participate in the project due to this stipulation, however, after seeing the impact their joint visits were making, participation improved dramatically and ultimately over an eight-month period, 116 parliamentarians visited 15 of the seventeen provinces, covering 37 communes and meeting with an estimated 55,000 people. (Two provinces could not be visited due to insecurity).
During their visits, the parliamentarians provided information to the population on the implementation of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Accord and the role of the transitional government. They also listened to the concerns of their constituents. The population was eager to meet with their parliamentarians and took the opportunity to voice their concerns, most of which revolved around the need for potable water, adequate health facilities, and education for their children, many of whom cannot attend school due to the lack of schools and teachers. While it is too soon to access the overall impact of this program, the parliamentarians now recognize the need to visit with their constituents on a regular basis and have voiced the understanding that they must address the needs expressed. It is anticipated that this program will continue with funding provided by UNDP.
BIP is supporting computer literacy courses for members of the National Assembly and the Senate. The courses will be conducted in preparation for the installation of the BIP-supported Parliamentary Computer Resource Center in June. By installing the Computer Resource Center and training members of the National Assembly and the Senate in its use, the parliamentarians will for the first time have regular access to resource materials provided from the internet. Most of the parliamentarians have never been out of the country and have no real world view from which to draw when passing laws. With the training, it is hoped that the parliamentarians will conduct research as to what other countries have done, that is, what works and what does not work, and will use this knowledge to propose, debate, and pass new legislation to benefit the entire country.
The first phase of the Good Governance project, implemented by the civil society organization "Ligue Iteka" in close collaboration with the Ministry for Good Governance and Privatization, has been completed. The training of trainers has been conducted and the good governance committees have been elected in targeted provinces. Culturally, Burundians are taught to never question authority and to simply do what they are told. This project, the first of its kind in Burundi, addresses two of OTI's objectives. First, the population at the grass roots will be trained so that they are empowered and equipped with the skills needed for them to participate in their local government by addressing any issues that they believe need correcting. Second, as the population becomes more empowered, they will begin to hold their local administration accountable for its actions and thus foster transparency.
B. 2002 Grants Activity Summary
Five grants totaling $67,512 were signed in May.
1. Dushigikirane
This civil society organization will train 100 women Muramvya province in conflict management and resolution. These women will return to their areas of origin to initiate activities that will foster peace and reconciliation. The objectives of this grant are to initiate dialogue between women of different ethnic groups specifically to address issues of peaceful cohabitation and assist the neediest of the population by building houses and providing them with food. This grant works towards meeting the OTI objective "to develop among different ethnic groups, active and informed discussions on common problems". In fact the training sessions in conflict management and resolution that will be organized will equip the women participants with skills that will help them take the lead in initiating activities to foster peace. Grant amount: $3,616.
2. Burundian Parliament
This grant will furnish the Parliamentary Computer Resource Center scheduled to be opened in June. This is explained in the general body of the report. Grant amount: $15,739.
3. Paroisse de Ruganza
In order to demonstrate to the people the tangible benefits of peace, this project will rehabilitate the water supply in the commune of Ruganza in the Kayanza province. As a result of the project, over 20,000 people will have access to potable water. This site was chosen because it is one of the most populated areas of Burundi. Moreover, the infrastructure was already installed but it was very old and needed repair before it could be operational again. This activity will bear tangible, quick and visible results benefiting all ethnic groups. An added benefit to the project is that as it will provide assistance to all ethnicities and the entire population will have to work together to ensure that the new water system remains safe and operational. Grant amount: $16,773.
4. Rainbow Umuco
Support is being provided to this civil society organization to organize events to celebrate the Day of the African Child on June 16th. Activities will target primary school children in the provinces of Muramvya, Kayanza and Bubanza. The purpose of the grant is to bring primary school-aged children into the peace process, to stimulate their thinking as to ways they can contribute to a lasting peace, and to help them understand that fighting is not the way to solve problems. After discussions with facilitators regarding what children can do to contribute to peace and reconciliation, the children will write poems and songs, and draw pictures to illustrate their thoughts. Competitions will be held in each province and prizes awarded to the best projects. The poems and artwork will be displayed in the provincial capitals as well as in Bujumbura. Grant amount: $14,684.
5. Union des Xaveries Adults
This grant will provide skills training in brick and tile production to 200 at risk young men in the province of Bubanza, which has long been a fertile recruiting ground for rebel groups due to the lack of land and jobs available to young people. As the country is being rebuilt, bricks and tiles are in short supply in the provinces providing a ready market for bricks and tiles that will be produced by the group. This is an area heavily infiltrated by the rebels who are currently recruiting young boys to the fighting. The materials provided as part of the grant will be turned over to the grant participants at the end of the training, who will continue making bricks and tiles and selling them locally. Grant Amount: $16,700.
C. Indicators of Success
The idea for the May peace marches came out of a planning session in early April when it was not yet clear whether or not there would be a presidential transition on May 1. At the time, there was a great deal of tension in the country; some wanted Buyoya out and some wanted him to stay. OTI's plan was to mobilize the population with messages of all kinds - through radio, TV - and with marches to let the authorities know that the people wanted peace no matter who was president. Another important message to the population was to let them know that even if they were unhappy with what was happening or not happening politically, it was essential that everyone stay calm, let the political process run its course, and not to resort to violence.
These messages played on all the radio stations in the country almost every hour of the day leading up to and after the May 1 transition. As a part of this campaign, OTI organized peace marches nationally, starting on Sunday April 20 (see the April report) and ending with the May 1 celebrations. It was during these official celebrations, when civil society is normally obliged by their local administrators to walk with them, that the people chose to defy the local authorities and walk on behalf of civil society under banners with messages for peace rather than behind the politicians. This simple act of disobedience in support of unity for peace is a sign that people are starting to express their own ideas and even challenge the status quo.
NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
- Work on monitoring and evaluating the
impact of the projects conducted thus far.
- Prepare for the mid-term assessment.
- Recruit field officers for each of the targeted provinces.