KIT supported the Dutch Embassy in defining strategic areas and possible interventions for enhancing food security in three provinces of Burundi (Bujumbura Rural, Bubanza and Cibitoke).

This was the first step in the implementation of the Multi-Annual Strategic Plan (MASP 2012-2015) of the Dutch Embassy with the aim of contributing to socio-economic and environmental stability in the Great Lakes region.

Establishing food security as a spearhead theme for the Dutch Embassy

Together with key stakeholders, we defined a theory of change that underpins the implementation and monitoring of future interventions in Burundi. First, key issues were identified, and entry points established based on analysis of rural livelihoods and staple food value chains:

• enhance access for smallholder farmers to agricultural services for innovation
• integrate farmers into input (fertilisers, seeds) and output markets (staple foods)
• increase food crop production (surplus production)
• combat malnutrition of children
• improve the natural resource base for agriculture (i.e. land tenure, management of drainage basins).

While identifying and developing these entry points, ongoing support initiatives by other donors were taken in account.

Secondly, a comprehensive set of collaborative interventions for enhancing food security were identified:

• national subsidy mechanism for agricultural inputs
• establishment of agribusiness clusters
• development of business development services
• decentralisation of land registration
• rehabilitation of feeder roads
• management of water catchment areas
• demand-driven agricultural research and extension, and
• promotion of improved nutritional practices.

Several of the proposed projects have been formulated and are being implemented.