Lutheran World Federation Burundi and Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) are partnering on an agriculture and livelihood project in Cankuzo and Ruyigi provinces in Burundi.
Communities in these provinces face significant challenges due to their hilly terrain, poor infrastructure, and high youth unemployment which affect agriculture and economic development. Climate change, deforestation, and soil degradation exacerbate these issues, leading to food insecurity. High poverty levels, gender inequalities, and inadequate access to clean water and sanitation further hinder community well-being.
The project aims to address food security challenges, build climate resilience, and promote gender equality through four sets of interventions: increasing household agricultural production through sustainable farming techniques, drought tolerant crops, and entrepreneurial support for cooperative members; improving household nutrition and dietary diversity by training farmers and women’s groups in nutritional practices and promoting kitchen gardens; increasing household income by supporting income generation activities through village savings and loan associations (VSLAs) and strengthening agricultural value chains; and enhancing gender equality by training gender champions to conduct community dialogues and awareness campaigns, promoting equitable resource allocation, and preventing gender-based violence.
The project will work with 1,200 households, comprising approximately 7,200 individuals, including returnees, resettled households, and host community households.