Burundi: Facilitated Political Economy Analysis for SDC

Between September 2023 and August 2024, Laure-Hélène Piron and Gareth Williams assisted the Swiss Development and Cooperation (SDC) office in Burundi to conduct a political economy analysis (PEA) to update its country strategy and programme portfolio. The analysis covered national level contextual issues and three sectors: governance, economic development and health.

This ‘facilitated’ process was conducted jointly with the SDC office through a series of workshops following our PEA framework that links analysis to action. The analysis and strategic discussions focus on recent changes in the country context and opportunities in SDC’s three focal sectors. The workshops were complemented by interviews and a document review, to triangulate findings. The analysis was updated as part of the process, as the context worsened, and several recommendations were adopted during the course of the year.

Gareth and Laure-Hélène have also been asked to assist the SDC Burundi office to support the preparation of two new programmes: in the coffee sector and on forensic medicine to address sexual and gender-based violence.