Burundi, Sustainable Development through Improved Local Governance
Objective
The Sustainable Development through Improved Local Governance (SDLG) programme aims to make local government in Burundi more accountable, responsive and inclusive. The programme has worked in areas of the former provinces of Rutana, Bururi, Makamba and Cibitoke, which now form part of the provinces of Burunga and Bujumbura.
Together with the Association of Burundi Communes (ACO-Burundi), VNG International supports local governments in strengthening their role, improving citizen participation and managing their own financial resources. The programme also works to improve the legal and financial framework for local government.
The aim is to help communes develop budgets that better reflect the needs of their residents and strengthen their ability to finance local development plans and deliver basic services.
Approach
In Burundi, limited financial resources and low levels of trust between citizens and local authorities can reinforce one another. When residents feel that their concerns are not being addressed or that public funds are not managed transparently, they may be less willing to pay local taxes and fees. This leaves communes with fewer resources to provide services, which can further undermine public trust.
SDLG addresses both sides of this challenge by combining citizen participation with improvements in local financial management.
Through participatory budgeting and Community Score Cards, the programme brings residents, civil society organisations and local authorities together to discuss priorities and improve public services. At the same time, it supports communes through leadership training, improved financial procedures and digital tools for financial administration and tax management.
By involving citizens in local decision-making and helping communes manage their resources more effectively, the programme seeks to strengthen both local governance and public trust.
Results
The first phase of SDLG focused on strengthening the capacity of ACO-Burundi to support local governments. During this phase, a national guide on participatory budgeting was approved and eight communes received training in bookkeeping software and transparent financial management. Community Score Cards were also used to bring local authorities and civil society organisations together to discuss the quality of municipal services and identify areas for improvement.
These activities have helped establish tools and processes for more transparent financial management and greater citizen involvement in local governance.
How better taxpayer data helps Nyanza plan its budget
17 september 2026
How can a commune plan its budget when it does not have a complete picture of its taxpayers? This was one of the challenges facing Nyanza, in Burundi’s Burunga province. For years, the commune had relied largely on previous revenue figures to estimate its income. Without a comprehensive taxpayer register, it was difficult to assess how much revenue could potentially be collected through local taxes.
Following training in local public financial management, the commune began improving its taxpayer registration. VNG International and ACO-Burundi supported this process through training and technical assistance. Local young people were also involved in collecting taxpayer information.
The collected information was integrated into the commune’s accounting software, providing a more reliable basis for tax administration and financial planning.
Following this work, the commune’s projected revenue from business activity taxes increased from BIF 38 million (approximately €11,000) to more than BIF 91 million (approximately €26,400). This represents an increase of more than 139% compared with the previous estimate. Property taxes are not yet included in these figures.
Importantly, these figures reflect estimated revenue rather than taxes already collected. Nevertheless, the improved taxpayer database gives the commune a clearer picture of its potential income and a stronger basis for preparing budgets and organising tax collection. This is an important step towards helping local governments manage their finances more effectively. Over time, better financial planning and revenue collection can help communes invest in public services that respond to the needs of their residents.