Twige Neza, promoting education in Burundi for peace and equal opportunities

Since the introduction of free basic education in 2005, Burundi has seen a strong increase in access and enrolment rates. This rapid growth has put significant demographic pressure on the primary education system, despite reforms put in place. While progress in access and gender parity is encouraging, the system still struggles to keep children in school and faces high repetition rates particularly in fundamental education reflecting challenges in efficiency, quality and equity.

Since 2019, AFD has been co-financing the Twige Neza project with the Global Partnership for Education, for a total of 51.9 million USD, including 4 million EUR from France through AFD. This makes AFD the Government of Burundi’s leading development partner in the basic education sector.

The project is implemented directly by the Burundian Ministry of National Education, in collaboration with UNICEF, WFP, UNESCO, PLAY International, and Libraries Without Borders. Its ambition is to ensure that all Burundian students are able to achieve the objectives of the national curriculum for fundamental education within reasonable timeframes and costs. Through this initiative, AFD provides direct support to the Burundi Education Sector Plan (2022–2030).

Twige Neza aims to improve access to education, notably through the construction and rehabilitation of 461 fully equipped classrooms, including latrines and school furniture. The project also includes teacher training in French and science, measures to reduce grade repetition, and support for the operationalisation and equipment of 776 school networks.

AFD is also contributing to the expansion of school feeding programmes and to the development of a national inclusive education strategy. In addition, the project will strengthen the resilience of schools by supporting activities that protect children and help them stay in school or return, particularly those who have been repatriated.