Burundi Crisis Response Plan 2024-2026

CRP last updated: December 17 2024
$46,259,000
Funding required
316,630
People Targeted
75
Entities targeted

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.

Kinyinya, Burundi, Portrait of Simon during a profiling exercise under DTM activities. © IOM 2023/ Alexander Bee

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.

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. 

Key Operating Modalities
Participation and empowerment Conflict sensitivity Integrated Programming Collaboration and partnership Localization Cash-based interventions
Cross-cutting priorities
Data and evidence Protection Mainstreaming Gender Equality Prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse Disaster Risk Climate Change Law and policy

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.

Objective 1 - Saving lives and protecting people on the move
Saving lives and protecting people on the move

$20,229,000
Funding required
120,193
People Targeted
54
Entities Targeted
Primary target groups
Internally displaced person
Local population / community
International migrant

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).

Objective 2 - Driving solutions to displacement
Driving solutions to displacement

$21,930,000
Funding required
175,440
People Targeted
57
Entities Targeted
Primary target groups
Internally displaced person
Local population / community
International migrant

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
Facilitating pathways for regular migration

$4,100,000
Funding required
21,000
People Targeted
15
Entities Targeted
Primary target groups
Internally displaced person
Local population / community
International migrant

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.  

Objective 1
Saving lives and protecting people on the move
$20,229,000
Funding required
[{"name":"Human suffering is alleviated","y":65},{"name":"Threats and vulnerabilities are reduced","y":20},{"name":"The quality of humanitarian assistance is enhanced","y":15}]
Objective 2
Driving solutions to displacement
$21,930,000
Funding required
[{"name":"Adverse drivers of displacement are minimized","y":30},{"name":"Displaced people are resilient and self-reliant","y":40},{"name":"Displaced people benefit from solutions","y":30}]
Objective 3
Facilitating pathways for regular migration
$4,100,000
Funding required
[{"name":"Migration flows and cross-border mobility are well managed","y":60},{"name":"Migration policy and legal frameworks are aligned with international standards","y":20},{"name":"Migrants are protected from violence, exploitation and abuse","y":20}]

Percentage of funding required contributing to the long term outcomes expressed on IOM's Strategic Results Framework.

$120,000
Funding required
Related inter agency plans
UNSDCF

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.

$120,000
Funding required
[["Saving lives",42],["Solutions to displacement",17],["Pathways for regular migration",42]]
Gatumba, Burundi. Floodings in Gatumba, near Bujumbura.  © IOM 2024/ Alexander Bee
Gatumba, Burundi. Floodings in Gatumba, near Bujumbura. © IOM 2024/ Alexander Bee
Camp coordination and camp management
$1,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA
Protection
$4,779,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA
Mental health and psychosocial support
$4,600,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA
Water, sanitation and hygiene
$2,700,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA
Shelter and settlements
$7,960,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA
Health
$6,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA UNSDCF
Data for action, insight and foresight
$3,300,000 Funding required
Support services for response actors
$900,000 Funding required
Disaster risk management
$6,500,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans UNSDCF
Community stabilization and community-driven development
$1,500,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans UNSDCF
Livelihoods and economic recovery
$3,400,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans UNSDCF
Peacebuilding, violence and conflict reduction
$1,500,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans UNSDCF
Land and property
$2,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans UNSDCF
Operational presence in

Burundi

26
International staff and affiliated work force
151
National staff and affiliated work force
4
IOM field office

 

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.

With thanks to our current donors