Burundi Nyanza
$24,664 needed of $24,664
Implementing Organization
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM)
Program Summary
Burundi is one of the world’s poorest and most food-insecure countries, with over 80% of the population living below the international poverty line and 52% of children under five chronically malnourished. The 2024 Global Hunger Index calls hunger severity in Burundi “alarming.”
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Burundi’s Integrated Food Security and Resilience project targets 14 communities in six areas of the Nyanza Commune in southern Burundi. The commune’s food security mirrors the national crisis. During the hungry season (October–January), vulnerable households typically eat only one daily meal, limited to staple foods like cassava or maize with beans, occasionally supplemented with vegetables. During the harvest season (March, April, June), consumption increases to three daily meals, still primarily staple foods for vulnerable households, though less vulnerable households add more vegetables and sweet potatoes.
The project aims to boost food security and household resilience by equipping local churches and alliances to mobilize initiatives, improve agricultural practices (like conservation agriculture via peer-led demonstration plots), increase food production, diversify livelihoods, strengthen financial management (through savings and loan groups), enhance business skills, and expand access to markets and resources. Key strategies involve fostering community cooperation through local alliances and promoting livestock rearing.
Success Stories
Planting the Seeds of Better Nutrition
Aline is a smallholder farmer and mother of four. Her family often faced food shortages, especially during the lean season. Their meals mainly consisted of cassava and maize – foods that filled their stomachs, but don’t offer the protein and vitamins their bodies needed to thrive.
“I had limited knowledge of nutrition, and meals were staple-heavy with little variety,” said Aline.
Things changed when she recently participated in training on climate-smart agriculture and nutrition. The training was offered through the local church in her community in partnership with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries NCM.
There, she learned about agricultural techniques like composting, intercropping and proper crop spacing. She also gained a better understanding of her family’s nutrition needs and considered how she might be able to meet those needs by growing more vegetables to include in their diet.
“Now I can grow vegetables and feed my children better. NCM helped me understand and apply what I learned. I feel stronger and more hopeful for the future,” said Aline.
Although this program has just begun, families like Aline’s are already eating better, earning more, and actively participating in community learning. As they continue to work together, they’ll build long-term resilience, nutrition security, and economic stability in their community.
Burundi Nyanza is led by Nazarene Compassionate Ministries – Burundi