Rebuilding resilience through Education

1. Rebuilding resilience throughEducation Par Son Excellence Monsieur le Ministre de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique, M. Saïdi KIBEYA Le 27 juillet 2009

2. My main message « Burundi is becoming a prouder, stronger and more resilient country through stronger systems in the education sector »

3. Programme of the presentation Rebuilding resilience in challenging circumstances • Burundi, a challenging circumstance • Burundi, building a stronger nation • The education sector • How did education help • Back to my message • What does it mean for our partners

4. Burundi ??

5. Burundi ! • In the heart of Africa • Part of the Great Lakes Region of Africa • Not bordering the sea • Just a bit smaller than Belgium in size • Just a bit less people than Belgium • Nicknames: • Small Switzerland • Hidden Paradise • Mille et une collines

7. Burundi, a challenging circumstance • Years of conflict : 1993 – 2005, killing 300,000 people • August 2000: Arusha Peace Accords signed • December 4, 2008: Signing of Accords with last active rebel group (FNL) • Demographic pressure : 3% growth each year • 48% of our population under the age of 15 • Many refugees return from Tanzania and DRC: 94,081 in 2008 only

8. For comparison:Refugees in Europe

9. Burundi, building a stronger nation • 2005: Democratic and transparent elections • 2009: Integration of rebel fighters in government , army and police • 2006: All sectors have a sector policy • 2008: Strong reforms in Public Finance Management • 2009: New laws for investors, procurement, ..

10. The education sector • Strong political will • 2005: free basic education for all children • Enrolment of children between 6-12 • 2005: 53% • 2008: 85% • Staff in education sector • 2005: 20,000 • 2009: 33,000

11. The education sector (2) • During last 3 years: 7,000 new classes • In 2008: 50,000 new school benches • National Budget for Education has been raised by 50% for 2009; with 23% of our recurrent budget spent on education • Many accompanying measures : • School canteens • Special attention to vulnerable groups [repatriates (15,000 children), isolated areas, etc.]

12. The education sector (3) • We have finalized our National Strategic Plan for the Education Sector • Donors have put in place a basket fund to finance this plan • Strong coordination mechanisms for better alignment and harmonisation are in place now (Sector Working Group)

13. The education sector (4)

14. How did education help • Education helps to see the reconstruction of the country as a “Project for a common future” • Education helps to reconstruct a Burundian identity • It creates “National Cohesion” • It reconstructs a “Society based on human capital” • Population is involved in all stages of development of education sector • Education has become a programme for “openness to cultural diversity”

15. Community works for building a class room

16. Back to my message « Burundi is becoming a prouder, stronger and more resilient country through stronger systems in the education sector » • The education system has shown resilience • But, more important, the country has become more resilient by and through a strong education sector

17. What does it mean for our partners • Donors in post-conflict countries have different attitudes than in “normal” development countries • Donors should assist countries in “challenging circumstances” to evolve quickly to a normal development phase (instead of staying in the emergency or transitional logic) • Our Education basket fund has problems of absorption capacity, due to very heavy procedures (non-objection ex ante)

18. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND PLEASE, COME TO VISIT BURUNDI SOON !!