PEACEBUILDING
BURUNDI
Land rights: a key to a peaceful society 55% of recorded Burundian court cases are land related. These land conflicts are primarily between families returning from displacement and those that remained home during the war(s). Land is a scarce resource in Burundi, where the agriculture sector accounts for 92% of employment. ZOA intervenes in Burundian communities highly affected by land conflict. We empower and support (both physically and technically) the district administration and the community structures to resolve land issues in a sustainable manner. During the intervention, special attention is paid to women’s land rights, without compromising or breaching the Burundian codes of law. (According to the local culture, women cannot inherit land.) For married couples, ZOA encourages both husband and wife to register and for both names to appear on the land certificate. In 2021, a total of 33,742 plots of land belonging to 25,779 persons were measured, registered, and certified in two districts. 3,802 of these plots were registered and certified in the names of the couples. The result depicts a remarkable shift in the cultural mind-set of the people. In these areas, communities now have the capacity to resolve emerging land issues. In 2021, 71.9% of reported land related conflicts were resolved locally.
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ZOA ANNUAL REPORT 2021
ZOA works with local communities and organisations and engages the local government with the objective of sustainable change. We aim to transform the attitudes, behaviours, and (local) causes of conflict. Peace is not just the absence of violence; it is also the presence of justice and social cohesion. Women and youth have a key role in promoting peace and security; therefore, ZOA specifically works with these groups. A large share of the conflicts is resource based, which underscores the importance of ZOA’s work to address land and water conflicts.
“We are now free to invest in our land without fear. As a family, we are going to plan for a long-term investment on the land.” - Ndikuriyo Ernest, a 47-year-old farmer from Burundi, after receiving a land certificate which carries both his name and the name of his wife, Nimenya Celine.
