Burundi has genetic resources that can trigger sustainable development. However, the benefits derived from the exploitation of these resources and the associated knowledge are not shared in a fair and equitable manner. Access to these resources by national and foreign researchers remains clandestine, free and rarely controlled. All this favors the biopiracy of the country's genetic resources without anyone benefiting.

Researchers have free access to samples with or without permits issued by authorized authorities. This access does not follow APA principles. The involvement of researchers in the implementation of these principles requires:

• Mastering and applying basic requirements to enable access to genetic resources and traditional knowledge;
• Compliance with obligations and contracts;
• Mastery of negotiation techniques;
• The establishment of a functional framework for researchers to apply APA.

Burundi has adhered to the Nagoya Protocol according to law No. 1/21 of 23 June 2014. With this accession, the Government of Burundi, through the Ministry of Water, Environment, Land Use and Urban Development, is taking all the useful and necessary measures to guarantee the implementation of the Protocol in Burundi. Furthermore, article 21 of this Protocol provides that each Party shall take measures to raise public awareness of the importance of genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, and of issues related to access and benefit-sharing. This guide to raising awareness among target groups on the challenges of the Nagoya Protocol is therefore part of this framework.