California State University Monterey Bay

Global Studies
GS: 400 Senior Capstone

Evaluation of the Millennium

Development Goals in Burundi

Eradication of Extreme Poverty in

Burundi

Jerome Sindano
Research Question and Hypothesis
Research Question: What should be done by the government
of Burundi to eradicate the extreme poverty?

Hypothesis: The poverty in Burundi is caused by four reasons:

• geopolitical location (landlocked),
• lose of manpower (refugees and displacement caused by the
war and conflicts),
• severe weather conditions (climate change),
• poor quality of education and lack of economic awareness
Government strategies have to address these issues to
eradicate poverty.
 Research Methods
• Primary Methods:
– E-mail survey of development professionals from the
field
– Case study (Botswana, Costa Rica, Belgium)

• Secondary Methods:
– Private and public databases and resources (UNDP,
World Bank, IMF and the government of Burundi)
– Comparative Method
– Development Method
– Qualitative Method
 Definition of Poverty
• Measures the well-being of
nations, households and
individuals
• Determines an opportunity of
individuals to get basic
needs, such as water,
shelter and clothing,
minimum standards of living
(<$1 a day, <$2 a day)
• Absolute vs. relative poverty
• Temporary vs. chronic
• HPI 1/1 index
 Poverty in Burundi
• HPI rank-81, value-37.6
• National poverty line-36.4%
• Population living below $1 a day
– 54.6%
• Population living below $2 a day
– 87.65%
• Per capita income of the poor -
$365
• Children underweight for age–
45%
• Population without access to
purified water – 21%
• Literacy rate – 40.7%

Retrieved from http://earthtrends.wri.org/povlinks/map/m_43.php

 Current Poverty Eradication
Strategies
According to Burundi PRSP four strategies are
prioritized:
• Improvement of governance and security
• Promotion of sustainable and equitable
economic growth
• Development of human capital
• Combating HIV/AIDS
 Comparative Case Study
Botswana

• Countries:
– Botswana
Costa Rica
• HPI 1 – 31.4
– Costa Rica
• HPI 1 – 4.4
Belgium
– Belgium
• HPI 2 – 12.4
Comparative Case Study (cont.)
Comparative Case Study (cont.)
Comparative Case Study (cont.)
 Findings
Reasons for poverty in Burundi include:
• Financial mismanagement and
misallocation of budget
• Lack of government commitment to
economic growth
• Lack of technology
• More imports than exports
Strategies Selected From Case
Studies
• Develop global partnership system
• Apply free trade policies
• Increase youth employment
• Build peace and tranquility
• Create environment for foreign investment
• Mobilize domestic investment
• Develop tourism
 Policy Recommendations
• Develop tourism and agriculture
• Attract foreign direct investment
– Increase market openness
– Strengthen local currency
– Reduce taxes on imports
– Facilitate FDI operation in the field
• Strengthen global partnership
Thank you!
Any questions?