🌿 Rural Entrepreneurship and Economic Inclusion in Burundi: BBA Mobilises Expertise for the PRODER – IFAD 🇧🇮

Magali Dugardin
Oct 7
2 min read

Young rural entrepreneurs in Burundi using a laptop in a field, surrounded by agricultural products, illustrating the PRODER programme supported by IFAD and BBA. — Rural entrepreneurship in Burundi: the PRODER programme, supported by IFAD, promotes the economic empowerment of young people and women with the support of the Belgian Bankers Academy (BBA – PPMGL Group).

🌍 A Structural Programme for Rural Entrepreneurship in Burundi

The Rural Entrepreneurship Development Programme (PRODER), financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), is part of Burundi’s national strategy for inclusive growth.Its ambition: to accelerate rural entrepreneurship in Burundi, empower young people and women economically, and support the sustainable transformation of the agricultural sector.

The PRODER implements a structural mechanism – the Cost-Sharing Fund (FACP) – designed to finance and support business plans developed by young rural entrepreneurs.This co-financing model aims to strengthen the viability of local enterprises, stimulate job creation, and improve incomes in rural areas.

🚀 A Territorial Approach Anchored in Local Realities

The programme is organised around four regional hubs (West, North, Centre, and South-East), covering the twelve provinces of the country.Each hub brings together local teams responsible for validating entrepreneurial projects, providing technical and financial support, and strengthening the capacities of beneficiaries.

To ensure efficiency and transparency, PRODER also plans the digitalisation of the monitoring and reporting system, allowing full traceability of financing and impact measurement on the ground.

🎯 Objectives and Expected Outcomes

The programme’s priorities are structured around four key areas:

✅ Supporting the creation of sustainable rural enterprises, particularly in the agricultural and agri-food sectors.

✅ Promoting the economic inclusion of women and young people, with fair and inclusive selection criteria.

✅ Strengthening local capacities through training and mentoring of project promoters.

✅ Modernising monitoring tools for transparent and efficient management of the Cost-Sharing Fund (FACP).

These interventions will reinforce IFAD’s impact in the region and promote a model of responsible and inclusive rural entrepreneurship.

🧠 Expertise Mobilised by BBA

A recognised actor in capacity-building and financial governance, the Belgian Bankers Academy (BBA) – part of the PPMGL Consulting group – is mobilising its network of experts to support IFAD’s innovative initiatives in Africa.

With more than 25 years of international experience, BBA provides multidisciplinary expertise in training, technical assistance, digitalisation, and financial inclusion.Its approach combines skills transfer, local engagement, and a systemic vision of sustainable economic development.