Burundi is set to receive a US $8.6M grant from the African Development Fund (ADF) to support the first phase of the Water Sector and Climate Resilience Building Support Programme (PASEREC).
PASEREC aims to provide safe and reliable drinking water to 500,000 people across five drought- and flood-prone provinces Bubanza, Cibitoke, Cankuzo, Rutana, and Ruyigi while improving sanitation, strengthening climate resilience, and creating green jobs.
The new financing complements the US $13.3M initially approved by the African Development Bank (AfDB) in 2023, extending the programme’s implementation by one year through 2029. Under the project, 17 solar-powered water systems, eco-friendly sanitation facilities, and irrigation schemes will be built to enhance agricultural productivity and household income. The initiative is expected to generate 2,700 jobs, with 80% reserved for women and youth, through climate-smart farming, water system maintenance, and other community-based activities.
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Benefits of PASEREC
Beyond infrastructure, PASEREC will promote community-led management of water services, strengthen gender equality, and support agro-pastoral cooperatives with training, access to finance, and business development opportunities for young and women farmers. The programme is co-financed by the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA) and the Government of Burundi, underscoring a strong partnership for climate resilience and inclusive growth.
“This project is about dignity, health and opportunity, while also demonstrating the central role of water for the sustainable socio-economic development of Burundi. Access to clean water transforms lives. It keeps children in school, gives women more time to earn an income, and helps entire communities face the future with strength and confidence,” said Mecuria Assefaw, Division Manager for Water and Sanitation at the African Development Bank.