Technical Assistance in support of the DUKINGIRE IBIDUKIKIJE Programme, Contract No.: NDICI AFRICA/2022/438-162
The DUKINGIRE IBIDUKIKIJE Programme (PDI) comprises three components. The first two are integrated into the PACECOR project (Project to Support the Conservation of Ecosystems in the Rusizi River Basin), while the third focuses on "integrated management and local governance of water for the well-being of communities in the provinces of Bubanza, Bujumbura Rural and Cibitoke".
Component 1 (implemented by UNDP): It aims to restore and protect biodiversity and ecosystem services through activities such as reforestation, erosion control, and sustainable management of water resources within the two protected areas.
Component 2 (implemented by ENABEL): This component focuses on improving the livelihoods of local communities by promoting sustainable practices such as agroecology, low-carbon cooking technologies, and participatory resource management. It aims to reduce anthropogenic pressures on natural ecosystems while strengthening community resilience and socio-economic development. The PACECOR project (Component 1 + Component 2) focuses on the conservation of ecosystems in the Rusizi River basin, particularly in the Rusizi and Kibira National Parks.
Component 3 (led by a consortium of four NGOs): This component aims to improve access to drinking water, promote hygiene and develop sustainable sanitation solutions. It also includes capacity building for local water management authorities and governance structures to ensure long-term sustainability. Interventions are concentrated in the provinces of Bubanza, Bujumbura Rural and Cibitoke.
The two outputs to be achieved by the Technical Assistance are:
Output 1: Programme steering support for the DUKINGIRE IBIDUKIKIJE Programme (PDI): strategic and operational coordination across the three components -- (1) Governance and sustainable management of the Kibira and Rusizi National Parks (OBPE, PACECOR): implementation of Management Plans (PAG), ecological monitoring via space technologies (Earth observation, satellite GIS mapping, SMART, CEBioS), environmental education and local governance; (2) Restoration and integrated management of land and water resources: agroecology (80 CEPI farmer field schools, 58 trained facilitators), reforestation, anti-erosion works, forest management groups; (3) Management of drinking water and sanitation services (NGO consortium, AHAMR, AREEN): rehabilitation of rural water supply systems (AEP), STEFI monitoring, decentralisation to municipalities. Progressive deployment of a shared information system using satellite observation and geospatial navigation for monitoring forest cover, 30-year rainfall and soil erosion (green transition and digital technological transformation).
Output 2: Specific technical assistance with five deliverables: (A) institutional, legal and policy framework study -- finalised and validated; (B) rural drinking water tariff model reoriented towards institutional support to AREEN (tariff simulations, training, pilot municipalities) in the context of decentralisation; (C) multi-institutional Information System (OBPE-IGEBU-AHAMR) deployed around six thematic products: stakeholder mapping of NPs, forest cover monitoring via space technologies (Earth observation, satellite remote sensing), 30-year rainfall analysis (1995-2024), STEFI module for drinking water data management, water access rates and soil erosion (green transition, digital technological transformation); (D) Burundi Forest Reference Emission Level (FREL/NERF) and national forest inventory: satellite-based forest cover mapping (Kibira, Rusizi), carbon emission monitoring, contribution to national climate commitments; (E) support for the revision of two legal documents on conservation and water management.
Project team: Team Leader (250 days), Key Expert 2 (880 days), Non-key experts (140 senior days; 192 junior days).
Services provided:
Output 1 - Programme management support: Programme management and steering support with strengthened operational and strategic coordination across the three PDI components. Provision of a secretariat for the PSC and TSC. Strengthening programme communication and visibility activities. Planning and monitoring-evaluation with implementation of an integrated system including dynamic dashboards and geo-referenced thematic maps. General technical support integrated across the three components including support for the operational implementation of Management Plans (PAG Kibira and Rusizi), integration of ecological monitoring via space technologies, support to CEPI farmer field schools, capacity building of municipalities as contracting authorities for water services.
Output 2 - Specific technical assistance: Study of the institutional, legal and policy framework. Reorientation and implementation of Deliverable B with support to AREEN for the development of a coherent institutional tariff model for rural drinking water. Deployment of the multi-institutional Information System (OBPE-IGEBU-AHAMR) around six thematic products. Development of Burundi's Forest Reference Emission Level (FREL/NERF) and national forest inventory with mapping and monitoring of forest cover via satellite remote sensing.