Grant for Burundi aims to assist water and agriculture

25 May 2010

Water and agricultural infrastructure in Burundi may see improvements after a grant was approved for the country.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) allowed the funds of $15 million (£10.5 million) to be given from the Fragile States Facility resources.

Agricultural productivity should be enhanced by seed, fertiliser and irrigation promotion in Burundi, as part of the Third Economic Reform Support Programme.

Power generating and the capacity of water supply is also part of the scheme, which should provide employment opportunities for health workers and teachers.

The AfDB notes Burundi is one of Africa's poorest countries and pro-poor expenditure must be increased during the current fiscal year.

Overall reforms have been introduced to improve the way public money is allocated and controlled and it is hoped the latest programme will play a part in this.

A civil war has affected the nation for the past decade, but it is now starting to emerge from the unrest and rebuild its economy.

Category: Water