USAID/OTI Burundi Field Report
November 2004
Program Description
The Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) supports Burundi’s peace process as outlined in the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement (APRA) by strengthening local capacities to benefit from and contribute to the peace process. PADCO, Inc., the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (WWICS) and African Strategic Impact (ASI) implement OTI’s Community-based Peace and Reconciliation Initiative (CPRI) and manage CPRI’s field offices in the provinces of Gitega and Ruyigi. Through CPRI’s four components: the Community-based Leadership Program (CBLP), vocational skills training (VST), community initiatives and media, the four organizations strengthen cooperation for conflict mitigation, help diverse groups generate non-farm income, and increase participation in public dialogue on current issues. The four organizations work closely with community groups, government entities, media outlets, NGOs, international organizations and other USAID offices to maximize the positive outcomes of their efforts. Since February 2004, OTI has invested $3,074,370 in these activities through 136 small grants.
Country Situation
President Domitien Ndayizeye Replaces Vice President Alphonse-Marie Kadege – On November 10, President Domitien Ndayizeye removed Vice President Alphonse-Marie Kadege from office for publicly rejecting the Pretoria power-sharing accords, for failing to participate in Cabinet discussions on the draft post-transition constitution and inciting others to do likewise. On November 11, the National Assembly and Senate elected Member of Parliament Frédéric Ngenzebuhoro to replace him. Mr. Ngenzebuhoro, like Mr. Kadege, is a member of the predominantly Tutsi political party Union for National Progress (UPRONA). Given the government’s careful diplomatic handling of this leadership change, disruption in Burundi was minimal.
Post-transition Constitutional Referendum Postponed until December 22, 2004 – For a second time, President Ndayizeye postponed a national referendum on the draft constitution, this time until December 22. The referendum was initially scheduled for October 20, and was previously delayed until November 26. CENI Chairman, Paul Ngarambe, explained that the referendum was delayed to allow time to conduct a national census and to register eligible voters.
National Voter Registration Undertaken – National voter registration was conducted from November 20-30. Observers attribute low participation levels to lack of public information about voter registration and the draft post-transition constitution, which will be put to a referendum on December 22. CENI will undertake a national awareness-raising campaign to address the problem. Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye also asked ministers, governors and other government officials to mobilize grassroots populations to register to vote.
President Ndayizeye Attends Regional Peace Conference – President Ndayizeye attended the first International Conference on Peace and Security for the Great Lakes Region, held November 19-20 in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. The Heads of State from eleven Great Lakes countries adopted a Declaration of Principles to end conflicts in the region. During the proceedings, President Domitien Ndayizeye requested that the predominantly Hutu rebel movement Forces for National Liberation (FNL), led by Agathon Rwasa, be identified as a terrorist organization.
Demobilization Launched – Burundi’s repeatedly delayed demobilization campaign was launched on November 29. To start, child soldiers, handicapped persons and ex-combatants near retirement age will demobilize. The first demobilisation operation is planned for December 2, 2004 at a camp reserved for military ex-combatants located in Muramvya province. The Secretary General of the National Commission for Demobilization, Reinsertion and Reintegration (CNDRR) indicated that 4,241 volunteers from the army (1,680) and ex-rebel movements (2,561) have registered to demobilize during this first stage. Over four years, the government plans to demobilize around 55,000 ex-combatants and create a unified army of around 25,000.
USAID/OTI Highlights
A. Narrative Summary
In November, WWICS’ international evaluator was in Burundi for a third visit to monitor the CBLP Master Trainers’ progress. He also conducted field work to deepen his understanding of Burundi’s community leadership structure. He commented in his debrief with OTI, PADCO and ASI staff members that one of CPRI’s advantages is its unique presence in all commune sub-divisions, or zones, in the country’s two target provinces. These insights continue to help the program implementation team increase CBLP’s effectiveness.
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| CPRI gives equipment to a dance group in Bugendana, Gitega. |
On November 18, CPRI held inauguration ceremonies for community initiatives in Bugendana and Giheta communes, Gitega. CPRI presented materials to the Inamahoro women’s association for theatrical performances to encourage others to welcome returnees and work together for Bugendana’s benefit. Bugendana’s Communal Administrator thanked CPRI for aiding reintegration activities that bring together residents and repatriates.
Giheta’s Communal Administrator attended CPRI’s presentation of sports equipment to the Giheta Youth Initiative. CPRI and youth participants rehabilitated a sports field to encourage reconciliation of youth from diverse groups through sports and informal dialogue. During the ceremony, students from the nearby CPRI-supported Giheta VST school performed a skit based on civic education lessons taught there discouraging local government corruption.
In November, CPRI approved two grants totaling $15,350, while implementing on-going activities. In response to recent political developments, namely voter registration and the upcoming constitutional referendum, program staff also developed a strategy for CPRI to support the country’s electoral process.
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| CPRI presents sports equipment to youth in Giheta, Gitega. |
The Media team met with CPRI partners Burundi National Radio and Television (RTNB) and RSF Bonesha FM (Bonesha) to redirect programming to support the electoral process. New programming priorities include: providing information on the draft constitutional text, the electoral code and communal law; educating citizens on electoral procedures and general civic education; sensitizing citizens on their vital roles in preserving peace, despite political uncertainties; and reinforcing themes of peace, reconciliation and participation.
The Media team also facilitated workshops with CPRI program staff in Gitega, Ruyigi and Bujumbura to discuss the draft constitution, the electoral code and voting procedures. The CPRI team brainstormed how each program component can increase citizens’ understanding of and participation in the electoral process. For example, the VST team actively encouraged eligible VST students to register to vote and to lobby their friends and family to do the same.
The Community Initiatives team facilitated meetings with laborers and students of voting age at the CPRI project sites of Gisuru primary and secondary schools, Ruyigi, and Giheta secondary school, Gitega, to discuss the importance of voter registration. Many in Ruyigi reported having already registered. Several students asked why politicians want them to vote in the constitutional referendum, when they have not publicly explained the content of the draft constitution.
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| CPRI staff, VST students and Gisuru community members played soccer in Ruyigi. |
Members of the Community Initiatives team participated in a CBLP workshop at Bwagariza VST school in Butezi commune, Ruyigi. They learned about misperceptions as sources of conflict, communication as a conflict mitigation tool, and other conflict resolution techniques. They will use these skills when working with communities to develop and implement various community initiatives. In early November, staff from the Community Initiatives team worked together with the Master Trainer in Gisuru commune, Ruyigi, to address conflicts among community volunteers at the Gisuru primary school rehabilitation site. At the end of the community dialogue, workers from different hillsides agreed to collaborate for the benefit of the larger community.
Using sports to foster reconciliation, the VST team organized soccer matches between students at the eight CPRI-supported VST schools and nearby communal colleges. Participants remarked that bringing together students from different schools helped to reduce tensions between the institutions. The zonal chief in Mutaho commune, Gitega, said that as a result of CPRI-supported sports activities at Gitongo VST, “youth from different parts of society play soccer together without creating any conflicts”.
B. Grant Activity Summary – USAID/OTI Burundi
C. Indicators of Success
Media partner RTNB stated that the Swahili-speaking population reports unprecedented access to the radio station. Before CPRI’s capacity-building with RTNB, they felt disconnected from political programming. At that time, only government officials and certain politicians were represented on state-owned RTNB’s political programs. Because of OTI-funded media outreach, Swahili-speakers and other Burundians now participate in public debates on current events. Similarly, a technical consultant to RTNB commented on CPRI-partner Bonesha’s improved programming as a result of CPRI’s technical support.
Communal Administrators have noted civil society leaders’ success in applying CBLP conflict mitigation skills within their communities. The Bweru Communal Administrator in Ruyigi has advised his constituency to present their conflicts to CBLP-trained leaders before bringing cases to the community tribunal or the communal administration. Trainees in Kirambi zone note that, indeed, the population actively seeks their input in resolving local conflicts. The heads of Butaganzwa zone and Kivoga hillside in Butaganzwa commune, Ruyigi, acknowledged that CPRI’s CBLP is unique in including the historically disenfranchised Batwa civil society leaders.
Ex-combatants enrolled in CPRI-supported VST schools note the schools’ impact on their lives, stating that their hopes for the future lie in vocational skills training. One ex-combatant explained his commitment to attending CPRI-supported VST classes, despite efforts by former peers to keep him in his rebel group. He escaped twice from a cantonment camp to attend classes. After his first attempt, former fellow combatants imprisoned him. Nevertheless, he escaped a second time because he was “thirsty to prepare his future and to engrave on his heart a determination to create for himself a peaceful future without conflict with others.”
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| VST students, including former rebels, learn how to make bricks. |
Another ex-combatant stated that the opportunity to learn a vocational skill is a viable alternative to theft or extortion. A third ex-combatant said he cried during a human rights lesson in a literacy class when he analyzed the atrocities he had committed during the war. He explained, “If I would have learned in time all that I have learned about human rights, I would not have participated in the [fighting]”. He said he would convince others not to fight and would encourage combatants to demobilize and to renounce violence.
A Giheta VST school guard remarked on his son’s changed behavior as a result of civic education and human rights lessons in the school’s literacy classes. Seeing his son shake hands with someone from another ethnic group for the first time, he stated, “Now everything has changed, and I hope that all youth go through this school.” A student at Bwoga VST school, Gitega, expressed a similar desire for CPRI to touch more peoples’ lives. He explained that as a result of participating in CBLP’s conflict resolution lessons as part of the VST curriculum, he is capable of facilitating reconciliation at home and in his neighborhood. He hopes that CPRI will expand its programming to reach others because Burundi is “full of unhappy youth without hope.”
Students are also providing positive feedback on the mathematics and business management classes taught at each VST school. One student explained that he can “more confidently confront life and prepare a future for himself” having learned how to manage a small enterprise.
In a November 25 meeting with CPRI program staff, the Governor of Ruyigi expressed his satisfaction with the VST team’s efforts to inform citizens of the upcoming constitutional referendum and elections. He congratulated CPRI for encouraging VST schools’ staff, including guards, to register to vote. He donated 50 copies of the draft post-transition constitution to VST staff to express his support for CPRI’s sensitization campaign on the electoral process. In both provinces, program staff distributed copies of the draft constitution to VST students.
Similarly, VST schools are enjoying strong community support. For example, the population in Butaganzwa commune, Ruyigi, donated a brick and tile kiln to Muriza VST school. The VST team will install the kiln for use by graduates. In addition, the communal official responsible for forestry activities donated trees for Muriza’s reforestation initiative. Each of the VST schools launched reforestation initiatives with OTI funding to replant trees used for skills training.
D. Program Appraisal
CPRI continues to play a critical role in Burundi’s transition. In the now six-month absence of a permanent OTI Country Representative, thanks go to the incredible efforts of PADCO’s Chief of Party and the entire CPRI field team, supported by a series of Acting OTI Country Representatives who have each given the program their all. OTI is most grateful to this team!
NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
On December 1, a USAID and Embassy delegation will visit CPRI activities in Giheta commune, Gitega, as part of their review of USAID’s programming strategy in Burundi. Delegation members will tour Giheta VST school, meet students participating in the Giheta Youth Initiative, and talk to trained leaders at a CBLP workshop.
CPRI program staff members will conduct a second stakeholder assessment in December in all eighteen communes of Gitega and Ruyigi to hear people’s views on leadership, reconciliation, the electoral process and media programming.
For further information, please contact:
In Washington, D.C.: Carlisle J. Levine, Program Manager at 202-712-0955 or clevine@usaid.gov
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