The Burundian Office for Environmental Protection (OBPE) organized a practical training on writing six concept notes on climate and biodiversity from December 2 to 13, 2024 at ISANGO HOTEL in the city of Gitega. This practical training on project writing is part of the project “Strengthening the capacities to mobilize financing for biodiversity and climate resilience in Burundi” funded by the International Organization of la Francophonie through the IFDD and implemented by the Burundian Office for Environmental Protection (OBPE) and implemented by the Burundian Office for Environmental Protection (OBPE). The main objectives of this project are to:

• Train 50 public sector officials and local NGOs on the mobilization of climate and biodiversity finance
• Prioritize and build a portfolio of 6 projects on climate and biodiversity
• Develop three priority projects to be submitted to the climate and biodiversity hotspots, in particular to the Adaptation Fund.

Fifty (50) agents in charge of environmental protection, non-governmental organizations and local associations, non-governmental organizations and local associations, technical services, users of natural resources, users of ecosystem services (farmers, beekeepers, livestock farmers,...), local administrations and decision-makers at all levels took part in this 10-day training. The institutions represented included:

• Burundian Office for Environmental Protection (OBPE)
• General Directorate of Programming and Planning at MINEAGRIE
• Ministry of Hydraulics, Energy and Mines (MHEM)
• Burundi Institute of Agricultural Sciences (ISABU)
• Directorate-General for Environment, Water Resources and Sanitation (DGEREA)
• Association Protection of Natural Resources for the Welfare of the Burundian Population (APRN/BEPB)
• Geographic Institute of Burundi (IGEBU)
• Burundi Institute of Agricultural Sciences (ISABU)
• Union for Sustainable Development, the Change of Mentalities and the Fulfilment of Humanity (UDCEH)
• University of Burundi (UB)
• Fraternity of Active Citizens for Development (Fracade Burundi)
• Village Mutual Aid and Community Development Association (AVEDEC)
• Communities of Hope

At the end of this training, six ideas for concept notes covering the fields of agriculture, forests and ecosystems, energy, health, water resources and infrastructure and transport.