The project to support civil society active in the fields of environment and biodiversity in Burundi (PASCALE-B IBIDUKIKIJE) aims to: Contribute (1) to the engagement of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) as actors in good faith. governance and socio-economic development of the country and (2) to the improvement of the state of the environment and natural resources in Burundi (General Objective), and Strengthen the participation of civil society in the protection of natural resources and the environment (Specific Objective).

PASCALE-B IBIDUKIKIJE is a project financed by the European Union, implemented by a consortium of 6 organizations ADISCO, AGDB, AVEDEC, Join For Water, UCODE-AMR and Louvain Cooperation (lead of the consortium). The project is being implemented in the provinces of Bubanza, Kirundo, Makamba and Rutana.

PASCALE-B IBIDUKIKIJE contributes to the country's policies and strategies, in particular:

1. The project contributes to the vision Burundi as an emerging country in 2040 and a developed country in 2060: The project contributes to the achievement of the following strategic objectives:
   • Strategic objective 17 in relation to improving access to drinking water, hygiene and sanitation. Indeed, this project will make a participatory diagnosis on the major challenges in the local environment and sanitation, raise awareness among the population on the subject, encourage CSOs to initiate actions based on the results of the diagnosis and finance impact-generating initiatives up to 420,000 euros. Special emphasis will be placed on solid waste management (collection, treatment, treatment, recycling, reuse, etc.), liquid sanitation, hygiene, and education/awareness of the environment and the economy/rational use of resources and consumer goods.
   • Strategic objective 19 in relation to the protection of the environment and the strengthening of resilience to climate change. Indeed, based on a participatory diagnosis of the challenges of the sector, recovery actions will be supported up to 420,000 euros. Special emphasis will be placed on the conservation of protected areas, the protection of watersheds, the identification/popularization of alternative fuels to wood, the promotion of clean cooking systems, reforestation, the promotion of legal fishing and its value chain and the protection of water resources.
2. The project meets challenge 1 of the National Development Plan (PND), especially strategic orientation 3, which highlights environmental protection, resilience to climate change and the improvement of land use planning. The project will contribute to axes 9: Sustainable environmental management, axis 10: Water resources and global sanitation and axis 11 climate change and risk management.
3. The project contributes to the National Strategy and Action Plan to Combat Land Degradation (SNPA-LCD), which devotes its second strategic axis to the restoration and preservation of soil productivity and other ecosystem goods and services. This axis has objectives aimed at the protection of watersheds and the improvement of the ecological conditions of degraded areas through the strengthening of the protection of protected areas, the defense of degraded regions and the fight against bush fires.
4. The project contributes to the REDD+Burundi National Strategy and Action Plan (Reducing GHG Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, the role of forest ecosystem conservation, sustainable forest management as well as the increase of carbon stocks) on its options: (i) Improving knowledge on forest resources and climate change and sharing information on the REDD+ process, and (ii) Sustainable increase in agricultural production and preservation of natural ecosystems
5. The project contributes to the Communal Community Development Plans (PCDC), on its ^4th Axis of Environmental Protection and Adaptation to Climate Change”.

The expected results of the project are 5:

Result 1: The capacities of Burundian CSOs (especially those of women and young people) working in various key sectors concerning the protection and conservation of the environment, natural resources, biodiversity, etc. of the provinces of intervention are strengthened.

Result 2: A political dialogue is developed

Result 3: The population's practices concerning waste management, liquid sanitation and hygiene are improved in the Action's intervention areas.

Result 4: The practices of the population concerning the management of natural resources and biodiversity are improved in the areas where the Action is active.

Result 5: The knowledge resulting from the action is capitalized and disseminated for the benefit of civil society, policy makers and other actors in the sector.

Project summary:

Title of the action:	Project A: support to civil society A active in the fields of the environment and biodiversity in Burundi (PASCALE-B IBIDUKIKIJE)
Place (s) of execution of the action:	Burundi: Bubanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Rutana Provinces
Consortium member organizations:	ADISCO, AGDB, AVEDEC, JOIN FOR WATER, UCODE-AMR and LOUVAIN COOPERATION
Consortium lead:	LEUVEN COOPERATION
Duration of the action:	39 months (from 14/12/2022 to 13/03/2026)
Total budget for the action	2,222,222 Euros (2,000,000 Euros in EU contribution and 222,222 Euros in contribution from consortium member organizations).
Target group	Civil Society Organizations: a total of 80 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) (i.e. 20 CSOs or umbrella organizations/province) 16 CSOs that received financial support (4 per province) Platforms (provincial and national). Ministry of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security (national and local level). Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock (MINEAGRIE) Approximately 44 managers: OBPE (national, provincial and municipal levels); General Directorate of Environment and Water Resources and Sanitation (DGEREA); Provincial Offices for Environment, Agriculture and Livestock — BPEAE (provincial and communal level). Ministries relating to microprojects or various themes: health, national education, mines, etc.