Over the past ten years, the population of Burundi has grown rapidly, rapidly increasing the number of school-aged children. The country’s education system faces several challenges, including a low level of completion of basic education, and a high proportion of children outside school, made up mainly of marginalised and vulnerable groups. Due to a lack of financial, technical, and human resources civil society is less able to contribute to bringing about change.

In view of this situation, and with reference to the progress made during the two phases of implementation of the EOL programme, the EFA BAFASHEBIGE coalition wishes to contribute to the promotion of Inclusive Education by strengthening its commitment to the development, implementation and monitoring of inclusive education policies that by 2026.  

More specifically, the specific project objectives can be divided in three: 

• National education policies have been improved to better meet the goal of inclusive education in Burundi by 2026.
• The Coalition's member organisations are heavily involved in the process of planning and monitoring the implementation of education policies by 2026.
• Learning and exchange opportunities are developed on strategies and mechanisms for integrating gender into education policies by 2026. 

The project is building on the efforts made during the previous project phase, implemented between April 2022 – December 2023, and will rely on the progress already made, and lessons learned. The coalition will engage and draw on the experience of its staff, member organisations and other actors, most of whom have solid experience in gender-transformative programmes, including child protection, gender-based violence, youth empowerment, and education and has knowledge in the areas of Protection and Promotion of the Right to Education, Reintegration and Support for Young Returnees, and Care for Orphaned Children and Vulnerable Persons. 

During the current phase, the project interventions key activities will include: 

• Carry out an in-depth diagnosis of the inclusion of the Coalition and its member organisations. 
• Support the Coalition's member organisations in setting up systems to promote inclusion. 
• Organise annual inter-provincial exchanges between the School Management Committees (CGE), provincial branches and consultation frameworks on the need to take account of Inclusive Education in the School Action Plans (PAS). 
• Organise community dialogues on the role of each stakeholder in protecting the school environment and learners. The aim is to act as a watchdog and early warning system before the 2025 electoral period.
• Strengthen regional consultation frameworks and ROSCE members in advocacy and communication techniques based on the results of the analysis of existing gender policies. 
• Organise a national conference on the basis of the recommendations resulting from the exchanges between the regional consultation frameworks, ROSCE and ministerial authorities in order to put in place a joint advocacy plan for the improvement of inclusive and gender-sensitive education policies.

The sustainability of the project's results depends first and foremost on the ownership of the project by the programme partners and stakeholders, at both national, regional, and local levels. The project is designed around a participatory and decentralised approach, with strong involvement of local communities, which will ensure the longevity of the project impact. 

A previous phase of the project was carried out between April 2022 – December 2023. The current project is part of the EOL extension phase of 2024-2026. Read more about the previous phase of the project here.