Burundi

Burundi, a landlocked country situated in the Great Lakes region, is characterized by its young population. The country experiences a steady population growth of over 3% annually and is expected to double by 2050.   
Nearly 90% of Burundians live in rural areas and engage in small-scale subsistence agriculture which has put significant pressure on forests and farmlands. 

Formal and informal Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are at the heart of Burundi's private sector development. Comprising of fewer than 100 employees each, they account for more than 90% of the enterprises and are the real engine of employment growth in Burundi.
   
Presently, farmers and traders are struggling as internal demand for their products has declined. Civil servants' purchasing power has fallen, and many Burundians need a second job to survive. Burundi recently deployed a National Development Plan to address the structural transformation needs of her economy.
burundi

fact and Figures

  • Area: 27,830 km²
  • Population: 10.6 million
  • Political capital: Gitega
  • Economic capital: Bujumbura

Swisscontact in Burundi

  • since 2017
Country Director Rwanda, DR Congo and Burundi
Charles Pouliot

Swisscontact in Burundi

Swisscontact activities in Burundi focus on enhancing the skills of the rural population and vulnerable youth. Low indicators demonstrate the need for increased strengthening of the education sector in Burundi. 

Swisscontact employs a holistic, pragmatic, and sustainable approach in delivering skills training in diverse fields through its flagship project - Promoting Market Oriented Skills Training and Employment Creation in the Great Lakes Region. We work in close collaboration with the Government of Burundi who in 2012, adopted a National TVET policy to train qualified workers in line with community needs and the national economy. 

The implementation strategy also incorporates public-private partnerships through various activities like artisan participation in training and certification processes, internships, or other forms of school-enterprise work experiences etc. All the project activities are in line with establishing a sustainable TVET system by improving access, quality, equity as well as internal and external efficiency. 

Burundi, Rwanda, DR Congo
Initial vocational education and training
Promoting Market Oriented Skills Training and Employment Creation in the Great Lakes Region
The project supports the Governments of Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to improve access, quality and relevance of their respective Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems. This addresses the key development challenge of unemployment and underemployment brought about by the low quality of skills...

Partners

  • Craftsmen of Kayanza, Muruta, Kabarore, Muhanga, Butaganzwa, Gahombo, Gatara and Matongo communes in Kayanza Province
  • Craftsmen of Busiga commune in Ngozi Province
  • Craftsmen of Buganda, Murwi, Rugombo and Mabayi communes in Cibitoke Province
  • Local Government Authorities in the concentration zones
  • The Sectorial Chamber of Art and Crafts (CHASAA)
  • The Collective for the Promotion of Youth Associations (CPAJ)
  • Training centres run by the religious congregations of Matongo, Rwegura and Maramvya
  • Kayanza Center for the Promotion of Crafts (PAK)
  • Burundi Business Incubator (BBIN)
  • Action avec les Enfants et les Femmes vulnérables (AFEV)
  • Association pour la Reconstruction Global (ARG)
Project Journey and Key Achievements 2012 - 2020
PROMOST (Promoting Market-Oriented Skills Training) in the Great Lakes Region is currently in its eighth year of operations in Rwanda and is about to round up the third phase of the 12-year SDC programme that aims at supporting the Government of Rwanda’s efforts to improve access to as well as quality and relevance of its TVET system. This regional programme extended its activities to Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo during phase 2. PROMOST is financed by SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation). 

Regional Reports Central, East and Southern Africa

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Swisscontact in Burundi
P.O Box 684 Bujumbura, Burundi
5, Avenue Muramvya, Bujumbura