Country
Burundi

Local project partner
Réseau des Institutions de Microfinance au Burundi (RIM)

German project partner -

Donor
Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

Duration
01.07.2019 - 31.10.2020

In Burundi, climate change poses major challenges to the country's socio-economic development; the impact on development-related sectors such as agriculture, livestock and health, as well as on water resources and soil fertility in the coastal region of Lake Tanganyika is palpable. The high poverty of the rural population as well as a lack of hygiene lead to repeated outbreaks of cholera epidemics and other diseases.

In order to improve basic sanitation and to provide rural households with access to biological fertilizer, GIZ developed the ecological latrine "Akasuga". Following the introduction of the latrine in the three provinces of Mwaro, Bururi and Rumonge, households are involved in financing the construction of the latrine themselves.

In view of the low level of financial inclusion, access to microfinance should be promoted by linking savings groups to the formal financial sector. The members are trained in Savings Game, stopped for saving and coached in the formulation of loan applications. At the same time, microfinance institutions (MFIs) are advised on the introduction of a loan product for savings groups. The loan installments are to be repaid with the sale of organic fertilizer and higher crop yields for fast-growing crops such as vegetables.