USAID/OTI Burundi Field Report
May 2002
Program Description
USAID/OTI's program goal in Burundi is to support the transition to peace and democracy as articulated in the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Accord (APRA). The objectives are to increase momentum for the implementation of the Accord and to promote citizens' commitment to lasting peace and greater justice for all. To achieve these objectives, USAID/OTI is undertaking the following activities.
- Legislative Strengthening Initiative
OTI is supporting a six-month legislative assistance program to enhance the Burundian legislature's role in promoting peace and reconciliation. The National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) will work closely with the National Assembly and the Senate to enhance awareness among Burundian legislators of their roles and responsibilities under APRA and to increase dialogue and cooperation among legislators from different political parties. The program will also encourage representatives to undertake outreach initiatives that increase public dialogue and participation.
- Burundi Initiative for Peace
The Burundi Initiative for Peace (BIP), implemented with the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), will provide a series of small grants to encourage popular support for APRA and for the transitional government. The small grants program will work in targeted geographic areas to support activities that promote a commitment to lasting peace.
COUNTRY SITUATION
Despite the May cease-fire negotiations in South Africa, an agreement between the transitional government and the rebel groups remains elusive. The transitional government has made progress in implementing certain provisions of APRA such as the building of state institutions, but it has not moved forward on other critical provisions of APRA such as ethnic integration of the army.
Fighting between the rebels and the military resulted in the displacement of at least 32,000 civilians in the month of May. Rebel road ambushes are frequent on routes outside of Bujumbura during the early morning and evening hours. During the month of May two such ambushes resulted in the kidnapping and eventual release of a Catholic Bishop and the killing of a Batwa Senator.
A reported 17,610 refugees returned from Tanzania in the month of May. UNHCR reports that this number includes both facilitated and spontaneous returns. Most of the refugees are returning to stable areas such as Kirundo and Muyinga, while there is less return to the more volatile provinces.
Government pressure on and censorship of the independent media in Burundi increased in the month of May. African Public Radio owner, Alexis Sinduhije, was accused of endangering national security for reporting on planned military operations against the rebels. The government issued a prohibition against interviews with rebel leaders thus limiting the freedom of the press. In a separate incident Mr. Sinduhije was detained and interrogated about recent stories concerning the murder of the WHO representative earlier this spring. The murder has yet to be solved and African Public Radio has been criticizing the lack of progress that the government is making on the investigation.
HIGHLIGHTS
A. Narrative Summary
Grant criteria for the BIP component have been developed and distributed to local and international groups working with community-based groups in Burundi. BIP staff members have held meetings with potential implementing partners to explain the criteria and the application procedures for the small grants mechanism. Grants will range from $1,000 to $25,000 and the primary beneficiaries will be indigenous groups working at the grass-roots level in various parts of Burundi. BIP approved its first grant in the month of May and several others are currently being considered for approval in June.
NDI/IRI are currently working with the National Assembly and Senate to finalize plans for the public outreach component of OTI's legislative strengthening component. The public outreach component is intended to increase communication between parliamentary representatives and the citizens to encourage popular support for the transitional government and APRA. The public outreach component will be launched in June. OTI is coordinating with other donors to target opportunities for leveraging funds and to avoid duplication of activities.
B. 2002 Grants Activity Summary
"Growing Geniuses"
BIP awarded its first grant to the Gitega-based group, "Genies en Herbe" (Growing Geniuses), to support a competition between students in fourteen schools throughout Gitega Province. The competition focused on questions related to APRA, good governance, democracy, and civil and human rights. Open try-outs were held in each school with the five best students chosen to represent their school in the competition. The four top school teams participated in the final competition that was taped by radio and television for airing nation-wide. Due to the airing of the competition on radio and television, the impact of this project was nation-wide.
On the final day of the competition hundreds of students came from the competing schools to cheer on their teams. Special attention was given to the types of prizes awarded with the goal being to increase debate and to encourage collaboration and communication among the students regardless of their ethnicity. Radios for each classroom were awarded to the top four schools to enable students to follow the news and current events both in Burundi and the region. The winning team received a trophy as well as vouchers that will cover their school fees for the next year.
C. Indicators of Success
Despite an on-going teachers' strike, the level of student participation in the "Growing Geniuses" project was high. Even without the guidance of teachers the students continued to study aspects of APRA and other related subjects in expectation of the competition.
Next Steps/Immediate Priorities
- Begin work on baseline survey
- Introduce and initiate legislative strengthening proposal for Public Outreach program to both houses
- Begin the first phase in preparation for the installation of computer labs in the legislature
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