The TerrAfrica Secretariat housed at the NEPAD Agency recently undertook a mission to Burundi and approved funds to support the Government of Burundi in promoting sustainable land and water management and developing the Country’s Strategic Investment Framework (CSIF).

Mamadou Diakhite, TerrAfrica Programme Coordinator stated during the first technical meeting that the partnership with TerrAfrica will help Burundi to advance farming and water management techniques while creating job opportunities for rural residents.

TerrAfrica is a partnership led by the NEPAD Agency with the aim to promote innovative solutions to sustain landscapes, address land and water degradation and adapt to a changing climate. It is currently present in 24 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Burundi joined TerrAfrica in late 2013 and will soon be conducting their CSIF. The CSIF is a platform to operationalise and accelerate the implementation of harmonised SLM strategies and plans under TerrAfrica.  

The membership process involves engagements with countries and development partners on SLWM issues as well as the coordination and implementation of TerrAfrica programmes and activities on the ground.

The TerrAfrica team met with the Minister of Environment, Mr Jean Claude Nduwayo and Minister of Agriculture, Mrs Odette Kayitesi, whom both expressed their unwavering support for SLWM and welcomed TerrAfrica to Burundi. Additionally, they echoed the importance of focusing on rehabilitating and promoting sustainable land and water management strategies that will build livelihood and food security benefits to reach thousands of local households in their country.

The occasion also provided an opportunity for a site visit to various agricultural models of good sustainable land practice in the province of Mwaro and Gitega, where TerrAfrica donated 200 units of weeding hoes to local women farmers. The women farmers expressed their appreciation to TerrAfrica and vowed to adopt best practices in sustainable land and water management.

Once set-up, the TerrAfrica platform will provide farmers hands-on training with new sustainable land management techniques that improve long-term productivity.