IOM, in collaboration with the Government of Burundi and other partners, will provide immediate humanitarian assistance and implement long-term resilience strategies to address socioeconomic, demographic, and public health challenges which exacerbate existing vulnerabilities, resulting in internal displacement and irregular migration flows. This approach aims to improve the well-being and stability of crisis-affected populations, including migrants in vulnerable situations and returnees. By addressing urgent needs and promoting sustainable, inclusive solutions, IOM and its partners will work to reduce displacement drivers, foster peace and development, and strengthen communities' capacity to cope with increasing climate-related risks.

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Burundi is a landlocked country inhabited by 13.2 million persons with a population density ratio of 442 people per square kilometer that is exposed to climate-related hazards: a major cause of displacement and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the country. Torrential rains, floods, landslides, and strong winds pose existential threats to Burundi’s population. The rising waters of Lake Tanganyika, exacerbated by heavy rainfall, have also led to significant flooding in recent years, submerging homes, displacing communities, and disrupting livelihoods along the shoreline. According to IOM’s dashboard, as of May 2024, Burundi numbers 102,824 internally displaced persons (IDPs), 93 per cent of which were displaced as a result of natural hazards. The increase in the intensity and frequency of natural hazards as a direct consequence of climate change affected more than 300,000 individuals between October 2023 and March 2024, with women and children representing 54 percent. The impact of climate-related hazards includes destruction of homes, plots of land, personal belongings, livelihoods as well as damage to existing social infrastructure leading to a lack of access to essential services for displaced populations. In this setting, women, children and individuals with specific needs face multidimensional vulnerabilities and risks of exploitation, including trafficking in persons, while being exposed to repeated violations of their most basic rights. The majority of those affected had already been living in protracted displacement with most IDPs living with host families, and in safe sites for (temporary) evacuation and relocation made available by the Government of Burundi, highlighting challenges in the equitable distribution and access to land.
Burundi is a landlocked country inhabited by 13.2 million persons with a population density ratio of 442 people per square kilometer that is exposed to climate-related hazards: a major cause of displacement and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the country. Torrential rains, floods, landslides, and strong winds pose existential threats to Burundi’s population. The rising waters of Lake Tanganyika, exacerbated by heavy rainfall, have also led to significant flooding in recent years, submerging homes, displacing communities, and disrupting livelihoods along the shoreline. According to IOM’s dashboard, as of May 2024, Burundi numbers 102,824 internally displaced persons (IDPs), 93 per cent of which were displaced as a result of natural hazards. The increase in the intensity and frequency of natural hazards as a direct consequence of climate change affected more than 300,000 individuals between October 2023 and March 2024, with women and children representing 54 percent. The impact of climate-related hazards includes destruction of homes, plots of land, personal belongings, livelihoods as well as damage to existing social infrastructure leading to a lack of access to essential services for displaced populations. In this setting, women, children and individuals with specific needs face multidimensional vulnerabilities and risks of exploitation, including trafficking in persons, while being exposed to repeated violations of their most basic rights. The majority of those affected had already been living in protracted displacement with most IDPs living with host families, and in safe sites for (temporary) evacuation and relocation made available by the Government of Burundi, highlighting challenges in the equitable distribution and access to land.
With 80 per cent of the population engaged in the agricultural sector, Burundi's economy remains fragile and vulnerable to shocks. Inflation rose to 16 per cent in July 2024, driven by higher food and fuel prices. Fuel shortages also persisted in 2024, totaling 45 months of duration, due to a lack of foreign currency that consistently prevents the stockpiling of fuel reserves.
Following the tripartite agreement between the governments of Burundi and Tanzania, together with UNHCR in 2023 (UNHCR 2023), agreeing to move from facilitated to promoted repatriation, returns to Burundi are expected to increase to around 53,000 individuals. Between September 2017 to September 2024, 248,668 persons returned to Burundi, with about 70 per cent returning from Tanzania (UNHCR 2024). These returns have led to increased pressure and competition over resources in host communities, acting as a driver of tension and conflict.
In addition, mainly linked to the fragile security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the country continues to host some 84,300, refugees, and 3,100 asylum seekers, mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo (UNHCR 2023).
Increased attention needs to be paid to health preparedness and response to diseases with epidemic potential as the country is affected by ongoing outbreaks in the Great Lakes region. In January 2023, the Minister of Public Health declared a Cholera outbreak and announced an outbreak of Mpox on 25 July 2024. According to the Ministry of Health's reporting, as of 31 October 2024, 2,190 Cholera cases and 1,607 Mpox cases have been confirmed across 81 per cent of the country's health districts.
As a member of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), IOM coordinates the implementation of its activities with other UN agencies and partners. IOM has established strong relationships with national and local authorities and its initiatives are aligned with the needs of the government as enshrined in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2027,the National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction 2018-2025 and the National Strategy for the Durable Reintegration of Natural Hazards Victims and Inclusion of Batwa in Burundi 2023-2027.
IOM is the co-lead of the Shelter and Non-Food Items (SNFI) sector, which is also responsible for Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) aspects, and co-lead of the Point of Entry (PoE) and cross-border health surveillance platforms alongside the Ministry of Health (MoH). IOM leads the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSCDF 2023-2027) pillar five related to Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and co-lead the Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group. IOM is also supporting the operationalization of Burundi’s National Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (EWS) for 2024-2027, in which IOM is listed as a supporting institution across the four pillars of the EWS. Together with the Government of Burundi, IOM co-leads the Counter-Trafficking Working Group and the Housing, Land and Property (HLP) sub-sector and plays a key role in the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Working Group. IOM is a member of both the government-led Durable Solutions Working Group and the Durable Solutions Inter-Agency Working Group under the auspices of the Resident Coordinator’s Office.
IOM’s DTM products are disseminated to other agencies and partners, as well as local authorities at the national and local levels, to structure and provide evidence to inform appropriate responses in the country. IOM, in collaboration with the Government and other partners, has developed the Stability Index, which is a tool to provide information on the relative stability in areas of return to inform priority programmatic interventions across the humanitarian- development-peace nexus to strengthen resilience and stability and prevent further displacements. IOM also works in close collaboration with the Burundian Red Cross in the framework of data collection for humanitarian response, and in emergency response itself. In its counter trafficking in emergency response, IOM makes sure to work with local organizations to defend the rights of women, children and youth.
As a member of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), IOM coordinates the implementation of its activities with other UN agencies and partners. IOM has established strong relationships with national and local authorities and its initiatives are aligned with the needs of the government as enshrined in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2027,the National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction 2018-2025 and the National Strategy for the Durable Reintegration of Natural Hazards Victims and Inclusion of Batwa in Burundi 2023-2027.
IOM is the co-lead of the Shelter and Non-Food Items (SNFI) sector, which is also responsible for Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) aspects, and co-lead of the Point of Entry (PoE) and cross-border health surveillance platforms alongside the Ministry of Health (MoH). IOM leads the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSCDF 2023-2027) pillar five related to Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and co-lead the Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group. IOM is also supporting the operationalization of Burundi’s National Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (EWS) for 2024-2027, in which IOM is listed as a supporting institution across the four pillars of the EWS. Together with the Government of Burundi, IOM co-leads the Counter-Trafficking Working Group and the Housing, Land and Property (HLP) sub-sector and plays a key role in the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Working Group. IOM is a member of both the government-led Durable Solutions Working Group and the Durable Solutions Inter-Agency Working Group under the auspices of the Resident Coordinator’s Office.
IOM’s DTM products are disseminated to other agencies and partners, as well as local authorities at the national and local levels, to structure and provide evidence to inform appropriate responses in the country. IOM, in collaboration with the Government and other partners, has developed the Stability Index, which is a tool to provide information on the relative stability in areas of return to inform priority programmatic interventions across the humanitarian- development-peace nexus to strengthen resilience and stability and prevent further displacements. IOM also works in close collaboration with the Burundian Red Cross in the framework of data collection for humanitarian response, and in emergency response itself. In its counter trafficking in emergency response, IOM makes sure to work with local organizations to defend the rights of women, children and youth.
IOM has been operational in Burundi since 2010 and has over 176 staff and approximately 100 affiliated workforce nationwide, with a central office in Bujumbura, and sub-offices in Gitega, Ruyigi, and Muyinga. IOM has trained and qualified staff with strong operational capacities and sound knowledge of the local context, promoting good working relationships with local authorities and other partners. IOM Burundi works in cooperation with the Government of Burundi in addressing humanitarian needs, reducing vulnerabilities through longer-term interventions, and supporting progress towards achieving durable solutions for displaced populations, tailored to local needs and priorities. IOM will continue to support the government and civil society actors in creating the conditions for the revitalization, stabilization, and reform of social and economic life, and in managing safe, orderly, and regular migration, including in pursuit of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
The assistance to the Government of Burundi encompasses several areas, including:
- Shelter and settlements
- Cash-based interventions
- Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)
- Disaster risk reduction (DRR)
- Camp coordination and camp management (CCCM)
- Support to the health system to handle outbreak response, including disease surveillance at points of entry (PoEs)
- Community event-based surveillance
- Protection
- Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS)
- Durable solutions and reintegration
- Community stabilization and livelihoods
- Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) activities to monitor and assess the evolving needs of IDPs and returnees, as well as tracking emergency events.
IOM works with the Burundian Red Cross (BRC) and has trained more than 300 BRC enumerators on data collection. Furthermore, IOM works with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and maintains close coordination with all relevant stakeholders to bolster the protection network and services available in the country.
In addition, IOM Burundi provides orderly, efficient migration management support that contributes to enhanced integration and the improvement of vulnerable migrants’ and their host communities’ socioeconomic conditions in the context of growing challenges posed by climate change, environmental degradation, and disasters linked to natural hazards.
To ensure government ownership and buy-in, relevant ministries are involved at all important stages of coordination and project implementation, while also benefiting from technical and operational capacity building. IOM works with the government in the development of strategic documents/standard operating procedures (SOPs), including on health, SNFI, DRR, counter trafficking and CCCM. IOM supported the Government of Burundi in developing the National Action Plan (NAP) for counter-trafficking in persons as well as to create a comprehensive multi-hazard risk map of the entire country. This map is now utilized by all partners to facilitate informed decision-making regarding risk management. In addition, in the context of the Mpox outbreak in the country, IOM supported the Ministry of Health in developing comprehensive SOPs on surveillance at PoEs.
IOM actively participates in government-co-led sectoral working groups, sectors and inter-agency coordination fora. This includes IOM's role as co-lead of the Shelter/NFI sector along with the Ministry of Solidarity, co-lead of the HLP sub-sector with the Ministry of Interior, of Community Development and of Public Security, and lead of the Counter Trafficking Working Group in partnership with the Ministry of Solidarity. IOM is also a key partner to the government-led Durable Solutions Working Group (DSWG) and the inter-agency Durable Solutions Working Group, both groups involving the Ministry of Solidarity and the Ministry of Interior, of Community Development, and of Public Security. IOM works closely with the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, which is the government entity for disaster management (under the Ministry of Interior, of Community Development and of Public Security). IOM also supports the Ministry of Interior, of Community Development and of Public Security in safe border management. Finally, IOM works closely with the Ministry of Health in disease prevention and response to outbreaks. IOM will continue to coordinate its activities with the necessary line ministries not only through its active participation in the above-mentioned platforms and working groups but also in the Humanitarian Country Team and the Inter-sector coordination group.
Overall, IOM is a key partner to the Government of Burundi in generating key information to facilitate evidence-based interventions to catalyze the application of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach through its DTM related activities. IOM supports the Government and the humanitarian community through the production and dissemination g of timely information on emergency events, internal displacement, multisectoral needs, drivers of human mobility as well as on durable solutions through the Stability Index, to inform priority programmatic interventions and develop evidence-based policies aimed at strengthening resilience and stability and preventing further displacements.












IOM Burundi’s localization strategy is driven by the five pillars of IOM’s Localization Framework, which emphasizes equitable partnerships, capacity-strengthening, participation, coordination, and visibility. IOM Burundi works closely with local NGOs, community organizations, and government authorities to foster meaningful, equitable partnerships. By sharing resources and decision-making power, IOM ensures that local actors are actively involved in the planning and implementation of projects. Capacity-strengthening initiatives, such as tailored workshops and mentorship programmes, are designed to strengthen the institutional and technical capacities of local actors. These programmes cover a wide range of topics, such as shelter and latrine construction, financial inclusion, disaster risk reduction or heath system strengthening. Local communities and partners are also systematically engaged throughout the project cycle, ensuring that interventions are responsive to their needs and priorities.
IOM Burundi’s localization strategy is driven by the five pillars of IOM’s Localization Framework, which emphasizes equitable partnerships, capacity-strengthening, participation, coordination, and visibility. IOM Burundi works closely with local NGOs, community organizations, and government authorities to foster meaningful, equitable partnerships. By sharing resources and decision-making power, IOM ensures that local actors are actively involved in the planning and implementation of projects. Capacity-strengthening initiatives, such as tailored workshops and mentorship programmes, are designed to strengthen the institutional and technical capacities of local actors. These programmes cover a wide range of topics, such as shelter and latrine construction, financial inclusion, disaster risk reduction or heath system strengthening. Local communities and partners are also systematically engaged throughout the project cycle, ensuring that interventions are responsive to their needs and priorities. Furthermore, local authorities co-lead many of the coordination mechanisms, ensuring that projects are aligned with local and national priorities. IOM Burundi also advocates for the increased visibility and recognition of local actors, ensuring that their contributions are highlighted in strategic communications and donor engagements. This approach not only strengthens local capacity but also fosters resilience and sustainability in humanitarian, transition, peacebuilding and development response efforts.
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Objective 1Saving lives
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Objective 2Solutions to displacement
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Objective 3Pathways for regular migration
Saving lives and protecting people on the move

Under this objective, IOM will implement a humanitarian response informed by an HDPN approach to alleviate human suffering while upholding the dignity and rights of people affected by crises through shelter and settlement, NFI, cash-based interventions (CBI), health, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), protection, camp coordination and camp management (CCCM), and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) assistance. In addition, threats and vulnerabilities will be reduced providing an evidence-based response, protection mainstreaming and accountability to affected populations (AAP) mechanisms. Finally, IOM will contribute to enhance the quality of humanitarian assistance by strengthening humanitarian coordination mechanisms as well as through emergency preparedness. All activities implemented under these outcomes will be undertaken to prevent and mitigate the risks of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA).
Driving solutions to displacement

IOM will work to minimize the adverse drivers and structural factors that contribute to forced displacement by supporting the Governments and communities to address and adapt to climate and environmentally related, multi-hazard risks and disasters through DRR interventions while contributing to· peacebuilding, community stabilization and conflict resolution initiatives. In addition, IOM will support the recovery and resilience of Displaced people and returnees through recovery, or resilience strengthening programmes, HLP, shelter and settlements, health, MHPSS, protection, WASH and data for insight in transitional settings. IOM will support the Government of Burundi in addressing drivers of conflict in a sustainable and in a conflict sensitive manner, while enabling durable solutions to displacement through data-driven transition and recovery interventions to strengthen social cohesion and government services and build sustainable livelihoods.
Facilitating pathways for regular migration

IOM will work along with the Government of Burundi and communities to enhance cross-border mobility, with measures to ensure well-being, including health, security and safety of migrants in crisis-affected areas through counter trafficking in persons, counter smuggling of migrants, enhanced border management information systems and health care services to migrants at PoEs. In collaboration with the Government of Burundi. Migrants in crisis-affected areas will be protected from violence, exploitation and abuse through community-based initiatives preventing TiP, (S)GBV and (P)SEA and/or other forms of exploitation and referral pathways for the identification and protection of vulnerable migrants.
Percentage of funding required contributing to the long term outcomes expressed on IOM's Strategic Results Framework.
The comprehensive response proposed by IOM is based on identified needs, is conflict-sensitive and contributes positively to reducing protection risks, including mitigating risks of GBV, with full consideration of the local context. Ensuring that protection principles – Do No Harm, Ensuring Meaningful Access, Participation and Empowerment, Accountability - are mainstreamed across planned activities, in line with IOM’s Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) Framework. IOM ensures that assistance targets all ethnic groups in the community; that it is sensitive to age, gender, ability, and culture; and that it accounts for power dynamics that generate different impacts on individuals based on their identity markers. IOM also puts the individuals at the centre of its intervention through community-based activities such as cash for work (CfW) programming.
IOM Burundi has established complaints and feedback mechanism (CFM), such as a free-toll line to collect feedback. Post distribution monitoring are also systematically conducted to ensure the voices of those assisted are heard.
The comprehensive response proposed by IOM is based on identified needs, is conflict-sensitive and contributes positively to reducing protection risks, including mitigating risks of GBV, with full consideration of the local context. Ensuring that protection principles – Do No Harm, Ensuring Meaningful Access, Participation and Empowerment, Accountability - are mainstreamed across planned activities, in line with IOM’s Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) Framework. IOM ensures that assistance targets all ethnic groups in the community; that it is sensitive to age, gender, ability, and culture; and that it accounts for power dynamics that generate different impacts on individuals based on their identity markers. IOM also puts the individuals at the centre of its intervention through community-based activities such as cash for work (CfW) programming.
IOM Burundi has established complaints and feedback mechanism (CFM), such as a free-toll line to collect feedback. Post distribution monitoring are also systematically conducted to ensure the voices of those assisted are heard. IOM’s response will ensure meaningful access through dialogue with the targeted individuals, while taking into account potential individual challenges such as the inclusion of persons with disabilities or with specific needs through needs-based assistance. In line with IOM's commitment to protect affected populations from sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) perpetrated by humanitarian workers, a range of measures will be undertaken to prevent, mitigate the risks of, and respond to SEA including to develop context appropriate, gender sensitive and tailored key messages on the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (PSEAH) and safe reporting mechanisms as well as GBV incident response referral pathways in communities and affected populations. In addition to all IOM personnel, all stakeholders including implementing partners and Government counterparts will be trained on PSEAH and protection mainstreaming to foster accountability and safety.


Camp coordination and camp management
Objective 1: IOM will provide site management support to the Government of Burundi. Activities will include:
- Dedicated capacities to co-coordinate the CCCM task force at the national level.
- Improvement of living conditions of IDPs in existing sites through disaster risk reduction oriented and protection-centred site management.
- Promotion of community participation and engagement in site management and site maintenance.
- Support to the Government in site evaluation
- Support to the Government in site relocation in line with standards and principles
- Strengthening the capacity of government officials on CCCM.

Protection
Objective 1: IOM Burundi will ensure that crisis-affected individuals have meaningful access to humanitarian protection through:
- Provision of individual protection assistance and case management for vulnerable populations in crisis contexts.
- Community engagement and sensitization on protection in emergency settings, in site and out-of-site locations.
- Construction and management of women and children friendly spaces
- Community-based protection activities, including listening and referral services, in collaboration with the MHPSS team, as well as recreational activities.
- Distribution of multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA) to meet the needs of migrants in vulnerable situations
- Provision and distribution of dignity kits
- Coordinating with protection sector partners to produce up to date and accurate protection service mapping.
- Coordinating with partners on GBV and PSEA, identify and update assistance services available to survivors of SEA and GBV within the country-level referral pathway, including assistance available, through IOM’s existing programmes.
- Provide training to service providers on protection mainstreaming and humanitarian protection.
Objective 3: Under this objective, IOM will work in support of the Government of Burundi to protect migrants affected by crisis from violence, exploitation and abuse. Activities will include:
- Prevention activities on counter trafficking for crisis-affected individuals
- Assistance to victims of trafficking among crisis-affected populations, including VoT returnees
- Support to the Government of Burundi in combating trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants in crisis-affected areas through a range of activities and initiatives, including the provision of essential equipment, capacity strengthening as well as improving operational systems related to border governance.
- Support to the Government of Burundi to promote access to justice for survivors of trafficking
- Community-based initiatives in crisis-affected areas to prevent TiP, (S)GBV and (P)SEA and/or other forms of exploitation.

Mental health and psychosocial support
Objective 1: IOM will collaborate with government counterparts to strengthen the capacity of mental health and psychosocial service providers supporting crisis-affected populations. Activities will include:
- Training community leaders and health workers on MHPSS in emergencies and PFA.
- Provision of specialized, focused non-specialized and community and family support MHPSS services to IDPs and host communities
- Referrals to specialized services of individuals in need of mental health care requiring psychiatric consultations and treatment, including medication.
Objective 2: IOM will implement MHPSS activities at the individual, family, and community levels, supporting the Burundian government’s efforts to promote social cohesion and peaceful coexistence. Longer-term MHPSS needs will be addressed through:
- Community-based psychosocial support aiming at promoting social cohesion and peaceful coexistence, including recreative, socio-relational and cultural activities based on existing practices in the targeted communities.
- Capacity-strengthening of health professionals, community health workers, and community leaders working in Peace and Recovery on mental health issues and skills such as the psychological first aid (PFA) approach, basic MHPSS concepts, stress management, and communication skills.
- Design and conduct of trainings for community leaders on the integration of MHPSS in durable solutions programmes
Objective 3:
- Establishment of a public-private partnership in the field of MHPSS, to increase the availability of MHPSS services.
- Support to the Ministry of Public Health to revitalize the Mental Health Working Group.
- Provide MHPSS for migrants in vulnerable situations like those suffering from Mpox and VoTs

Water, sanitation and hygiene
Objective 1: IOM will support IDPs and host communities to ensure their access to safe and dignified living conditions in emergency situations. IOM will also work to reduce the risk of water-related diseases by improving hygiene behaviours and access to WASH supply services. Activities will include:
- Provision of hygiene kits, including tablets to enhance access to safe water
- Provision of emergency dignified sanitation solutions. This activity is complementary to the provision of shelter.
- Organization of community-based hygiene sensitization sessions in displacement site and internal displacement settings to mitigate disease transmission, enhance sanitation practices, latrine usage and maintenance.
Objective 2: IOM will support the safe access to WASH solutions to returnees and host communities through:
- Provision of hygiene kits
- Provision of durable sanitation solutions such as EcoSan latrines which generate fertilizers and semi-durable VIP latrines. This activity is complementary to the provision of shelter repair and construction solutions.
- Construction of water points.
- Organization of community-based hygiene sensitization sessions in transitional settings to mitigate disease transmission, enhance sanitation practices, latrine usage and maintenance, generate fertilizers for EcoSan latrines.

Shelter and settlements
Objective 1: As the co-lead of the SNFI sector and provider of last resort, IOM will ensure to respond to immediate shelter and NFI needs of communities affected by crises in the country.
- Provision of safe and dignified shelter solutions, including rental support, shelter repair, and emergency shelter, to targeted households.
- Prepositioning and distribution of essential household items.
- Prepositioning of NFI kits and emergency shelters to enable a rapid response in the face of an emergency
- Community-based capacity building related to safe construction techniques.
- Coordination of cluster and cluster-like mechanisms and technical working groups
Objective 2: IOM will address the longer-term shelter and NFI needs through:
- Provision of safe and dignified shelter solutions, including rental support, shelter repair, and transitional shelter, to targeted households.
- Distribution of Essential Household Items to returnees according to their needs.

Health
Objective 1: IOM will support the Ministry of Public Health in outbreak preparedness and response in Burundi. Key activities include:
- Needs assessment and risk analysis
- Conduct risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) at PoEs and cross-border areas
- Development of contingency and response plans to public health threats
- Support to the public health emergency operation centre with technical and material assistance, notably at at PoEs
- Support MoH in the dissemination of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for surveillance, IPC and PoE assessment.
- Provision of essential medical supplies, equipment and PPE to health facilities, especially at prioritized Points of Entry (PoEs).
- Enhancement of cross-border surveillance of diseases with epidemic potential at PoEs, including Community Event-Based Surveillance (CEBS) and Flow Monitoring Points, in collaboration with the Burundian Red Cross, in cross-border areas.
- Training (community) health workers to conduct CEBS, IPC, case management, and referrals according to existing referrals systems and in collaboration with health districts.
- Conduct population mobility mapping in collaboration with DTM at cross-border point to inform public health measures.
- Risk communication and community engagement, management of communicable disease, including Mpox in displacement site.
Objective 2 : IOM will assist the Ministry of Health in integrating migrant-sensitive services into the national healthcare system, particularly in crisis-affected areas. Key activities include:
- Referrals of cases identified through surveillance for specialized care.
- Training health staff in migrant-sensitive healthcare.
- Advocacy for the inclusion of migrants in the current free healthcare program
Objective 3: IOM will assist the Ministry of Health to strengthen health system for preparedness and risk reduction for potential health threats for targeted individuals. Key activities will include:
- Capacity building of health workers, MoH government officials, border officials on surveillance at PoEs
- Strengthening of cross-border coordination with neighbouring countries though organization of cross-border meetings to discuss and address common public health threats.
- Rehabilitation of health screening points in PoEs and healthcare facilities

Data for action, insight and foresight
The Displacement Tracking Matrix will enhance its data collection methods through advanced technology integration and strengthened community partnerships to improve its response to climate-related and displacement emergencies. It will also contribute to data-driven durable solutions for communities. Activities will include:
Objective 1:
- Displacement tracking in the country to highlight numbers, trends, locations, and profiles; monitoring access to basic services
- Emergency Tracking Tools to understand sudden displacements country-wide (e.g. rapid data collection triggered by sudden displacement and generating short situational snapshots)
- Strengthening the data collection, analysis, and management capacities of IOM staff and partner organizations.
- Strengthening the National Platform’s capacity to collect data on access to basic services, multisectoral needs and gaps.
Objective 2 :
- Durable solutions assessment in priority areas of return and (re)integration.
- Strengthening the data collection, analysis, and management capacities of IOM staff and partner organizations.
- Stability Index to measure and monitor stability in displacement affected communities/communities of return and inform-related programming.
- Early Warning Alerts based on collective intelligence to report on specific incidents that trigger sudden displacement including heavy rains, flooding and other risks.

Support services for response actors
Objective 2: IOM's initiatives to support and enable the humanitarian and development community in Burundi to respond to the needs of affected population will include:
- Establishment and maintenance of a network of information and data-sharing centres in key returnee-hosting areas.
- Organization of regular coordination meetings and workshops in collaboration with the DSW, Inter-agency Sustainable Solutions Working Group and other stakeholders to create a structured framework for discussion on durable solutions assessments and data.
- Collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and other relevant ministries to align the data collection and reporting mechanisms with national systems and policies, ensuring that the information generated through these activities contributes to the broader national efforts to address the needs of returnees, IDPs, and host communities.

Disaster risk management
Objective 1: IOM will support the government and civil society organizations (CSOs) in building their capacities for disaster preparedness and response through:
- Collaboration on contingency planning for disasters with key stakeholders such as national and local authorities, civil society, and community leaders.
- Conduct targeted training sessions for CSOs and local counterparts to enhance skills and knowledge in preparedness activities, ensuring a more effective, coordinated response.
- Working with key actors to include displacement-affected populations in emergency preparedness planning.
- Continuation of the development of evacuation plans and implementation of simulation exercises in the most disaster-prone communities.
Objective 2: IOM aims to reduce displacement risks and improve community adaptation to the effects of climate change by:
- Mainstreaming the use of the Burundi Multi-hazard Risk Mapping Platform by national and local authorities and DRR stakeholders in the disaster preparedness and recovery phases.
- Implementation of community-based adaptation and resilience activities, including nature-based solutions and early warning systems.
- Enhancement of climate-resilient infrastructure through the construction and reinforcement of key infrastructure systems, such as flood and drainage systems, and resilient public buildings through a Cash for Work modality when relevant.
- Support to the Government in the implementation of key frameworks such as the 2022-2025 Action Plan of the National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction, the National Roadmap for the Operationalization of a Multi-hazard Early Warning System for All in Burundi (2024-2027) and the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan (2023) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) 3.0.

Community stabilization and community-driven development
Objective 2: IOM Burundi will use its community-based planning mechanisms and leverage the Stability Index as a humanitarian-development-peace nexus programming tool to identify stability concerns, social cohesion gaps and basic services needs in priority areas of return to empower displacement affected communities, implement conflict mediation and development initiatives, as well as foster social cohesion. This will be achieved through the following activities:
- Community consultations and community-based planning mechanisms to identify gaps in social cohesion, basic services and infrastructures
- Community dialogues and meetings.
- Implementing reconciliation and community initiatives to strengthen social cohesion, in collaboration with the MHPSS team (e.g. theatres, sports events, cultural events), ensuring equal participation opportunities across different genders, ages and ethnic groups

Livelihoods and economic recovery
Objective 1: To enhance the response across the HDPN, IOM Burundi will implement:
- Emergency livelihood support to IDPs and host communities to complement other ongoing emergency activities and build economic resilience of affected populations.
Objective 2: IOM Burundi will promote sustainable livelihoods to outside shocks aiming specifically at empowering women in income-generation, skills-building, and access to resources and increased community resilience. The actions that will be carried out are:
- Cash-for-work activities (CfW) addressing the gaps identified during community-consultations in community infrastructures rehabilitation notably which will include at-risk groups including migrants, youth and women to work for a common cause.
- Establishment of village loans and savings associations to strengthen financial resilience
- Conduct market assessments, strengthening access to markets and value chains to ensure IOM’s livelihood intervention is market-oriented.
- Income-generating activities (IGA) support through professional trainings, establishment of cooperatives, small cash grants and/or in-kind support.

Peacebuilding, violence and conflict reduction
Objective 2: IOM Burundi will implement activities aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence and preventing conflicts while facilitating the return and (re)integration of vulnerable groups, such as returnees, and marginalized communities. IOM will therefore focus on:
- Training of local mediators to implement reconciliation activities and support formal and informal conflict resolution mechanisms
- Strengthening of the capacities of youth and women and groups that advocate for marginalized populations to meaningfully participate in peacebuilding and conflict resolution activities at the local, national and regional levels.
- Implementation of cross-border projects aiming at strengthening border areas both economically and socially, in collaboration with IOM offices and other UN entities in neighbouring countries.
- Support to the elaboration of a legal framework and building governmental capacities to facilitate repatriation, demobilization and reintegration activities for returning ex-combatants according to international best practices.
- Implementation of environmentally friendly peacebuilding activities, by bringing together different categories of the communities in climate-resilient activities to increase community capacities to respond to climate shocks.

Land and property
Objective 2: IOM’s HLP programming aims to strengthen access to land for displaced persons, returnees, and other vulnerable groups. IOM will focus on:
- Technical support to national and communal land services
- Material support to national and communal land services
- Community-based information campaigns on land rights and land certification
Objective 3:
- Institutional support to enhance land related policies in Burundi to reduce land related conflicts and enhance access to land for crisis affected populations
Burundi
The map used here is for illustration purposes only. Names and boundaries do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by IOM.
Figures are as of November 2024. For more details of IOM's operational capacity in country, please see the IOM Capacity section.