Outcome BDI_D_1.1

By 2027, more Burundians, especially the most vulnerable, benefit from a strengthened governance system and a more diversified and inclusive economy, including through regional integration

Advancing Women’s Rights and Governance Reform: UN Women continued its strategic advocacy and technical support to the government, focusing on legislative reforms and the promotion of women’s leadership in governance. In 2024, the organization worked closely with 15 ministries and 85 women’s organizations, including humanitarian bodies, to enhance their understanding of the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA). This approach has been instrumental in ensuring that gender equality is integrated into governance structures and public policy. One of the key initiatives was the Regional Women's Forum in Bujumbura, held in August 2024, which brought together over 50 women’s organizations and government representatives from Burundi and the wider Great Lakes region. The forum, which was organized under the patronage of the Head of State, addressed the impact of conflict on women and highlighted the need to amplify women’s voices in regional peace, security, and economic cooperation, aligning with the recommendations from the 11th Regional Oversight Mechanism (ROM) Summit. Strengthening Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda: UN Women continued to support the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda in line with UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 2250. Significant progress was made with the over 15,000 women mediators with representation from across the country. The Government, especially at the local level, is now using the women mediators to foster peace, security and development is Burundi in line with the country’s peace capitalization process. Through the successful localization of UN SCR 1325, the role of women in Peace, Security and Development architecture is valued by the government, due to the over 782 conflicts that have been resolved at the community level and the social cohesion that is manifesting amongst the different ethnic groups. In addition, local women’s organizations were empowered through a range of initiatives that focused on non-violent communication, leadership, and conflict resolution. Notably, 240 young people (particularly young women) were trained on peacebuilding, electoral conflict prevention, and combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Additionally, 840 Femmes lumières (women of light) who were trained are now community leaders and advocates, well equipped to advance the WPS agenda in their respective regions. Enhancing Coordination and Gender Integration: UN Women played a critical role in national coordination mechanisms, contributing to the integration of gender considerations in key development and humanitarian frameworks. In collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, UN Women co-led the revitalization of the Gender Sector Group (GSG), and issued recommendations to address violence against women, reform laws, and improve women’s participation in decision-making. Additionally, UN Women led efforts for key actors in the Inter Sectoral Group, focusing on the inclusion of gender-sensitive frameworks within the Ministry of Finance to better incorporate gender perspectives into budgeting and resource allocation. Furthermore, UN Women facilitated the development of gender-sensitive indicators through the Gender Thematic Group, which were integrated into the UN system’s evaluations and programming. Building Capacity for Gender-Sensitive Results: UN Women’s efforts in 2024 also focused on enhancing the capacity of key stakeholders to monitor and evaluate gender-sensitive outcomes. In partnership with GISE ( Gender Informed Sector Evaluation), UN Women promoted the inclusion of gender considerations in sectoral evaluations and financing models. This initiative increased awareness among stakeholders of the importance of gender-based financing and outcomes, encouraging agencies to integrate gender-responsive approaches into their evaluations and interventions. In 2024, UN Women’s interventions significantly contributed to strengthening governance structures, advancing women’s participation in decision-making, and supporting the development of a more inclusive and diversified economy. Despite the progress, challenges remain, particularly in ensuring that gender equality is fully integrated into national frameworks and that women’s participation in political and economic spheres is sustained. Looking forward, UN Women will continue to advocate for the inclusion of gender-responsive measures in the ongoing constitutional review process, ensuring that women’s voices are represented in governance reforms. Efforts will also focus on enhancing the capacities of women-led organizations and government sectors, strengthening regional integration processes, and ensuring that the outcomes achieved in 2024 lead to sustainable change by 2027. These collective efforts highlight UN Women’s continued commitment to empowering women, advancing gender equality, and fostering inclusive governance and economic systems in Burundi, which will benefit all Burundians, particularly the most vulnerable, by 2027.