Burundi

During the lifetime of the ninth European Development Fund (EDF), covering the years from 2003 to 2007, the European Community was able to support Burundi during a transitional period of crucial importance to the country's future.

This transition took place first and foremost on a political level. Following the Arusha Accords, it was possible to hold elections during this transitional period under satisfactory conditions. Thus, the process of political stabilisation was underpinned when a president, government, parliament and local authorities were democratically elected and took office following several elections held during the course of 2005.

The aid granted to Burundi by various partners and donors also went through a transitional period. At the beginning of this period, the assistance was granted mainly as emergency and humanitarian aid, with some measures in the area of rehabilitation (in particular, as a result of some of the projects in the seventh and eighth EDFs). Gradually, the actions focused increasingly on thematic matters and activities in the area of development, and on nontargeted budgetary support.

Burundi's precarious situation during this transitional period justified the significant role played by ECHO, which involved payments of €15 to €17 million per year. The Community budget also played an important role during this transitional period, with the number of projects rising from two or three carried out by NGOs to around thirty. The EIB was, however, not active in Burundi during this period, even though Burundi's arrears had been completely settled by the EDF.

Despite some promising developments, it was not possible during this transitional period to undo the damage inflicted on the country by a crisis that had lasted twelve years. The situation in Burundi remains problematic in all areas, be they human rights, security, good governance, the economy, social sectors or human development. In addition to this, the peace process itself is still fragile. The country needs to tackle the recurring problems of population growth, the availability of arable land, and food security.

The ninth EDF initially allocated €169.4 million for Burundi (€115 million for the A allocation and €54.4 million for the B allocation). At the end of the 9th of EDF the total resources for Burundi, including the transfer of the balances of the previous EDFs, amounted to €264.3 million (€199.9 million for the A allocation and €64.4 million for the B allocation). So far the total amount of funds has been committed.

However, the most important development projects (with resources amounting to €154.4 million) are starting only now, since it has taken much longer than expected to develop them and get them approved. This is unsatisfactory and makes the programming exercise more difficult.

At the moment it is difficult to predict what effect these projects will actually have, and therefore under what conditions the activities of the tenth EDF will have to be carried out. Through the development and ratification of a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) it is possible, however, to define focal sectors that correspond to the priorities defined by the Government of Burundi. The tenth EDF will generally aim to continue supporting Burundi through the process of crisis resolution, ensuring lasting peace and combating poverty. As a result, rehabilitation and rural development on the one hand, and healthcare on the other hand, will constitute focal sectors in the tenth EDF, and nearly 50% of the A allocation will be set aside for general budget support, which proved to be one of the essential factors in underpinning the peace process. It is therefore important to support Burundi during this posttransition period in order to enable the country gradually to start a process of sustainable development and, in this way, to combat poverty.