Community Engagement at the Heart of World Bank Projects in Burundi, East Africa
Sustainable development involves people at the heart of its journey. So, community engagement can make sustainability initiatives more relevant and impactful through local contextualization and participation. In Burundi, East Africa, community engagement takes the center of World Bank projects on healthcare and economic safety net.
Community Engagement for Sustainable Development
Communities are essential drivers for sustainable development. For instance, Indigenous Peoples are central to environmental preservation, while local community leaders have begun implementing climate action initiatives. With their local wisdom and understanding of real circumstances on the ground, communities can also help sustainability initiatives fit local contexts, creating just and inclusive progress for all. Amplifying their roles through community engagement becomes crucial.
In 2017–2023, the World Bank implemented two projects focusing on improving the healthcare system and financial security with community engagement in Burundi. Burundi is a small yet highly populated country in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of the poorest countries in the world, with USD 259.0 GDP per capita in 2022. Disease outbreaks and economic crises are some of the challenges faced by the people of Burundi.
Burundi’s Healthcare & Economy Projects
The Health System Support Project “Kira” and the Merankabandi Social Safety Net Project are two of the World Bank’s projects in Burundi. The Kira project aims to improve the reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health services and healthcare emergency responses. In the economic sector, the Social Safety Net Project aims to strengthen the cash transfer delivery and basic social safety net systems for vulnerable households with children.
Community engagement is a central part of the two projects. Through the Kira project, a health workers community was established to meet the needs of the locals. The project also works with local non-governmental organizations to conduct community assessments to gain better perspectives on the satisfaction level of the local communities regarding the healthcare services provided. These assessments help healthcare facilities improve their service qualities and allow people to voice their demands for quality healthcare systems.
Similarly, the Merankabandi Social Safety Net Project also engages local communities to establish an inclusive and just safety net mechanism for vulnerable groups in the country. Citizens can participate in the project’s process assessment, placing them at the heart of the decision-making process.
Multi-stakeholder Collaboration & Support
Based on the projects in Burundi, the World Bank has summarized key approaches to strengthen community engagement:
- Conducting capacity building on citizen engagement and its tools, such as a community dashboard and participatory budget.
- Conducting the organization of simulations to allow for a better understanding of the concrete application of the tools and to raise teams’ interest.
- Providing technical support for teams interested in implementing a citizen engagement tool.
Eventually, emphasizing community engagement requires multi-stakeholder collaboration and support between the communities, governments, businesses, and organizations. Empowering local communities to contribute to improving social, environmental, and economic conditions is a key driver to creating a world where no one is left behind.
Editor: Nazalea Kusuma
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Kresentia Madina
Madina is a Reporter at Green Network Asia. She graduated from Universitas Indonesia with a bachelor's degree in English Literature. She has three years of professional experience in editorial and creative content creation, editing, and research.