Clotilde Ndayisenga with her daughter Ines Nihorimbere at their home in Rugombo, Cibitoke. Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith/Concern Worldwide.

Burundi

Why are we in Burundi? With high levels of poverty, malnutrition, and maternal mortality, Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world. Concern Worldwide has been operational in Burundi since 1997 and currently implements programmes focusing on health, nutrition, livelihoods, and social protection.

*We are currently responding to the threat of COVID-19 in Burundi. Find out more about our response here.

Almost 84% of Burundians are living in poverty

The maternal mortality rate in Burundi is amongst the worst in the world with 548 deaths per 100,000 live births, and an under five mortality rate of 54.4 per 1,000 live births making it one of the most dangerous places in the world to have a child. Our work in Burundi focuses on nutrition, health, and livelihoods, with a particular emphasis on improving nutrition and overall health among people who are excluded from the health system. We specialise in community-based health and nutrition interventions.

Latest achievements

COVID-19 messaging

A total of 20,770 households (Concern beneficiaries) were sensitised on COVID-19 in 2021. This is approximately 103,850 people.

Cash transfers

New project locations

Aline Nsabimana’s family shell and sort the dried beans they have just harvested. Chris de Bode/Concern Worldwide.

Community Health Worker Jeannette Icimanishatse with one-year-old Nadia Niyihankuye Bukinanyana, Cibitoke, Burundi. Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith/Concern Worldwide.

Clotilde Ndayisenga (25) with her daughter Arlene Akimana (2) at their home in Rugombo, Cibitoke. Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith/Concern Worldwide.

Nurse Orene Nahimana measures three-month-old Roger Bimenyimana’s rate of breathing to diagnose if he has pneumonia. Photo: Concern Worldwide.

Widow Isabelle Mundana (66) earns a living from selling white aubergines at market which she cultivates on her plot of land and kitchen garden, along with caja peas, Chinese cabbage, amaranth, onion and spinach. She has benefitted from nutrition and hygiene training and a series of money transfers as part of Concern’s community and household resilience programme to improve living conditions and livelihoods for the most vulnerable. Photo: Darren Vaughan/Concern Worldwide.

Isabelle has received training and cash transfers. Photo: Darren Vaughan / Concern Worldwide.

How we're helping in Burundi

We are working hard to combat extreme poverty and build resilience in Burundi through our livelihoods, health and nutrition, and social protection programmes.

Latest from Burundi

Cherica (2) washes her hands in front of her grandmother's home in Cite Soleil, a district of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Photo: Dieu Nalio Chery/ Concern Worldwide

Story12 October 2020

Global Hunger Index: Is the world on track to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030?

Violette and her family in Burundi. Photo: Concern Worldwide.

News

16 May 2022

"I am a well known trader in our locality!" Helping communities in Burundi to build businesses

The Tubehoneza Programme in Burundi is helping families like Violette Nizigiyimana's to get back on their feet and start new businesses.

Violette Bukeyeneza sitting with her family in Cibitoke, Burundi. Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith / Concern Worldwide.

Story

13 November 2019

How a bunch of bananas could save a family this Christmas

You might not think a few bananas could making a lasting difference but Violette is proof otherwise.

Odette Kanziza, along with family members, stands on front of her kitchen garden which was constructed with thanks to a generous $100 (€95) public donation. Photo: Concern Worldwide.

News

3 March 2017

Fund a kitchen garden and change lives

Almost a month into the kitchen garden project Health and Nutrition Coordinator in Burundi, Zenon Ndikuriyo, describes how kitchen gardens – constructed with your support – are benefitting families in Burundi.

News

16 May 2022