GEOGRAPHY

It is a small country in the Great Lakes region of Africa. It is bordered by Rwanda on the north, Tanzania on the south and east, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the west. Although the country is landlocked, much of its western border is adjacent to Lake Tanganyika. The country's modern name is derived from its Bantu language, Kirundi.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

“Women represent 30.5 % in Politics”

The politics of Burundi take place in a framework of a transitional presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Burundi is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament, the Senate and the National Assembly.

Burundi's largest industry is agriculture, which accounted for 58% of GDP in 1997. Coffee is the nation's biggest revenue earner with 78% of all exported goods. Other agriculture products include cotton, tea, maize, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas (of which Burundi is one of the world's ten largest producers), manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, and hides. Besides agriculture, other industries include light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing. The currency is the Burundian franc (BIF).

The members of EASSI in Burundi are Le Collectif des Associations et ONGs Féminines du Burundi (CAFOB) and Reseau Femmes et Paix
Le Collectif des Associations et ONGs Féminines du Burundi (CAFOB) Le Collectif des Associations et ONGs Féminines du Burundi (CAFOB) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization created in 1994 under the initiative of 7 women’s organizations and with the support of the Canadian Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI). It was registered with the Ministry of the Interior January 20, 1997. It is composed of 63 associations acting in different sectors of development. For more information, visit http://www.refugee-rights.org/NGODirectory/CAFOB-Burundi.htm

Reseau Femmes et Paix is comprised of a board of women who are attaché to various organizations and meet regularly to monitor women’s activities in the region.