Burundi is a partner country in German development cooperation. In 2002, the stabilisation of the peace process was the basis for relaunching development cooperation activities, which had largely been suspended in the wake of the military coup in July 1996.

With an area of 27,834 square kilometres and some 6.6 million inhabitants, Burundi is one of Africa’s smallest countries. Around 90 % of the population is dependent on subsistence farming. Electricity and food supplies are insufficient, as is medical care. Food scarcity is exacerbated by Burundi’s high population growth of 2.2 % per annum. With an average per capita GNP of USD155, Burundi is one of the world’s poorest countries. Only one in two children goes to school, and 12 % of the population are HIV-positive.

The problems the country faces are to a large extent the result of violent conflicts between various social interest groups that have been flaring up repeatedly since 1993. According to United Nations statistics, 140,000 internally displaced persons were living in camps in Burundi in May 2004, while some 500,000 Burundians were living abroad as refugees.

In April 2009, the Forces Nationales de Libération (FNL) officially laid down their arms and were recognised as a political party after 29 years. Following this development, there are officially no longer any rebel movements in Burundi.

Municipal, presidential, senate and parliamentary elections are being held in Burundi from April to September 2010

Since the Arusha peace process began in 1998, Burundi has been on a difficult but promising journey towards peace. In August 2000, a Peace and Reconciliation Agreement was signed in Arusha, Tanzania by 19 political parties from the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups.

Since the end of 2005, GTZ has focused its activities in Burundi on water as a priority area, in an effort to improve water supply and sanitation.

GTZ is active in the field of refugee aid in the provinces Muyinga, Ruyigi, Makamba and Rutana on behalf of the United Nations Refugee Agency UNHCR.

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is also promoting food security and peacebuilding with a measure in Bujumbura Rural Province.

Since June 2008, GTZ has been implementing a project on behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office to strengthen the capacity of the Burundian police force.

The GTZ's activities in Burundi focus on the following priority areas:

• Conflict prevention, democracy and civil society (especially demobilisation and reintegration of refugees and ex-combatants)
• Combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic

For some time, GTZ has been active in the field of refugee aid on behalf of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). On behalf of the European Union (EU), it supports the implementation of the ceasefire in Burundi. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) promotes the repatriation of refugees through an emergency aid measure in Makamba province.