A significant conference-debate, focusing on "Investment policy in communal development projects in Burundi," was meticulously organized by ONG La Benevolencija with key support from the European Union. This key event took place on July 30 in the commune of Muyinga, situated within Buhumuza province, bringing together key stakeholders to address pressing developmental challenges. The assembly of participants included prominent local figures such as Amédée Misago, who serves as the administrator of Muyinga commune, and Aline Manirabarusha, the former governor of Muyinga province. Also present were Audace Nizigiyimana, a communal councilor for Muyinga commune, and Arthémon Umuntunutwiwe, the executive secretary of OLUCOME. The discussions at the conference showed the multifaceted obstacles impeding local development initiatives across the nation. During his address, Amédée Misago candidly stated that "L’accès à l’eau potable demeure un défi majeur pour la commune" (Access to drinking water remains a major challenge for the commune), noting a critical service gap. Misago further elaborated on the financial inconsistencies plaguing communal administrations, noting, "Il arrive que la commune n’atteigne pas les recettes escomptées, par exemple lorsque les récoltes des agriculteurs sont mauvaises" (It happens that the commune does not reach the expected revenues, for example when farmers' harvests are bad). These remarks set the tone for a full examination of the systemic issues affecting communal progress.
Communal Project Planning and Funding
The overarching challenge for the successful realization of all communal development projects in Burundi is unequivocally the lack of adequate financial resources. This fundamental constraint impacts every stage of project implementation, from conceptualization to completion. Project identification is designed to be a bottom-up process, commencing at the community level. This key initial phase involves direct engagement with citizens residing in the hills, ensuring that local needs and priorities are directly communicated. These grassroots proposals are subsequently integrated into the Annual Work and Budget Plan (PTBA), a vital document that outlines the commune's yearly operational and investment strategies. The PTBA, in turn, is carefully aligned with the broader, more strategic five-year communal development plan, ensuring a cohesive and long-term vision for progress. This structured approach aims to embed community input deeply within the official planning framework.
Financial allocations for specific projects are a critical component of this planning. For instance, the state has outlined a plan to allocate five billion Burundian francs specifically for the construction of a synthetic turf, reflecting an investment in sports and recreational infrastructure. For the vital water sector in Muyinga, a substantial budget of 178.5 million Burundian francs has been planned, showing the commune's commitment to addressing the critical need for potable water. The funding landscape, however, frequently shows a reliance on structured planning processes, where local input feeds into official budgets. While this systematic approach is commendable, the communal administration's ability to execute these plans remains highly contingent on securing and managing the necessary financial resources. These resources, unfortunately, often fall significantly short of the actual requirements, creating a persistent gap between ambition and reality. The identified projects, ranging from infrastructure like the synthetic turf to essential services such as water, reflect a diverse set of communal needs that are prioritized through this planning mechanism. However, the disparity between the ambitious scope of communal development plans and the actual availability of funding continues to be a persistent and formidable obstacle. The structured planning process aims to ensure that projects are prioritized based on explicit community needs and identified gaps, but the execution phase frequently encounters severe financial constraints that impede progress and often delay or prevent the completion of vital initiatives.
Infrastructure Deficits and Service Gaps
Across Burundi, significant infrastructure deficits continue to plague communities, with access to basic services being a primary concern. A stark illustration of this challenge is found in Cibitoke, where residents have been without running water for nearly a month, enduring prolonged hardship. Priorities for communal projects across Burundi consistently include the development and maintenance of essential infrastructure such as roads, the construction and renovation of schools, the establishment and upgrading of health centers, the improvement of general public infrastructure, and, critically, enhanced access to water. In Muyinga commune, the statistics reveal a pressing need: only 54% of the population currently has access to potable water, leaving a substantial portion of residents without this fundamental resource. To address this urgent situation, the installation of new water points in Muyinga, a project to be financed by the state, will require a substantial investment of approximately four million dollars, noting the significant capital expenditure needed for basic services.
The scarcity of water has profound and tangible economic impacts on daily life. In Cibitoke, for instance, the price of a single jerrycan of water can reach an exorbitant 1,000 BIF due to severe supply shortages, placing an immense financial burden on households. In response to these critical challenges, the commune of Cibitoke has proactively planned to invest approximately 100 million BIF in its water sector during the upcoming 2026-2027 fiscal year, demonstrating a commitment to long-term solutions. Further, more expansive efforts to improve water access are currently underway with the Ruzizi III dam project. This ambitious regional initiative, estimated at nearly 10 billion BIF, is anticipated to supply much-needed water to the communes of Rugombo and Cibitoke. Such a project holds the potential to significantly alleviate some of the long-standing service gaps in these areas, transforming the lives of countless residents. The significant financial commitments for these large-scale projects show the immense scale of the infrastructure needs and the substantial costs associated with improving essential services for the population, particularly in critical areas like water provision.
Market Access and Producer Struggles
Beyond infrastructure, market access presents another formidable challenge, particularly for agricultural producers. Mango producers in Rumonge are currently encountering significant difficulties in selling their harvest, leading to disheartening outcomes where some crops are rotting due to a critical lack of available markets. Bernard Masumbuko, who manages a local association overseeing an impressive agricultural area of over 12 hectares of orchards, each containing more than 100 mango trees, described the drastic shift in market access dynamics. "Previously, we could sell our production, and it was even permitted to sell to neighboring countries," Masumbuko stated, recalling a time of more strong trade. "Today, we only sell small quantities, when a buyer comes along," he lamented, showing the severe contraction of market opportunities.
This issue of limited market access extends far beyond mangoes, impacting a wide array of other agricultural products and producers across the country. In Gitega, for example, a bag of avocados that once commanded premium prices of up to 100,000 BIF now sells for a mere 15,000 BIF, reflecting a precipitous and devastating decline in market value for producers. These widespread market access difficulties are further exacerbated by a perceived disconnect in planning processes. Civil society representatives frequently note that they are not adequately involved in the development of communal plans. This exclusion potentially leads to the formulation of projects that do not fully address the nuanced needs of local producers or the critical requirements for strong market infrastructure, thereby perpetuating existing inefficiencies. The lack of strong market linkages and inadequate infrastructure contributes significantly to widespread post-harvest losses and results in severely reduced incomes for farmers in various regions of Burundi, undermining agricultural sustainability and rural livelihoods.
Procurement, Revenue, and Civil Society Concerns
The financial health and operational capacity of Muyinga commune are sustained by a diverse combination of revenue streams. These include locally collected taxes, essential state grants, vital support from development partners, and direct contributions from the population itself. However, the effective implementation of communal projects faces significant obstacles due to serious allegations of favoritism in public procurement processes. Such practices undermine fair competition and can lead to suboptimal project outcomes. Additionally, the embezzlement of certain revenues by tax collection agents is frequently cited as a critical factor contributing to the non-realization of some planned initiatives, directly siphoning funds intended for public good. These systemic issues not only undermine the financial integrity but also severely compromise the execution capabilities of communal administrations, eroding public trust and hindering progress.
Further impacting local economies, the closure of the Twitezimbere company in Gitega has been specifically identified as a significant reason for difficulties in avocado commercialization, creating additional hurdles for local producers who relied on its operations. Reports indicate that the closure of Twitezimbere is linked to the irregular use of electricity, a problem that has broader implications for economic activity and market stability not only in Gitega but potentially across the wider region. Such disruptions, whether due to financial mismanagement, procurement irregularities, or operational issues like power supply, critically affect the viability of agricultural supply chains and directly impact the income of farmers, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities within the communal economy. The civil society's concern that it is not associated with the elaboration of the communal development plan further notes a potential gap in inclusive governance, suggesting that a more collaborative approach could lead to more effective and responsive development strategies. Addressing these multifaceted challenges—from financial transparency and efficient resource allocation to inclusive planning and strong market infrastructure—is critical for fostering sustainable communal development in Burundi.