Burundi’s flagship national social protection program—Cash for Jobs project, or Merankabandi—launched as a pilot in 2016 and scaled nationwide in 2022. It has reached over 1.5 million people with cash transfers, startup capital, and crisis response, while strengthening national systems, with a strong focus on women, youth, refugees and shock responsiveness.
Development Challenge
Burundi continues to face extreme poverty and food insecurity. As of 2024, 63 percent of the population lives on less than $2.15 per day, and more than half of children under the age of five suffer from chronic malnutrition. Job opportunities are scarce—particularly for women and youth—and most people work in informal, low‑productivity agriculture. Recurrent climate shocks, including floods, landslides, and erratic rainfall, combined with refugees’ inflow, place additional pressure on already fragile local systems.
WBG Approach
The World Bank Group (WBG) is supporting the Government of Burundi to scale up its national social protection program, Merankabandi, to reduce poverty, expand job opportunities, and enable rapid shock response. Strengthening national delivery systems is central to this effort. Investments in a Unified Social Registry, an open-source management information system (CORE-MIS), and digital payments enable transparent targeting and rapid delivery of assistance nationwide. These systems are increasingly being used across sectors and by other development programs. Partnerships with humanitarian actors—including the World Food Programme, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the Food and Agriculture Organization—are supporting a gradual transition from emergency assistance to government-led shock response and refugee management through national systems. During recent floods and food crises, these systems enabled the government to identify and support over 100,000 affected households nationwide.
Results and Outcomes
Between 2016 and 2025, the following results were achieved:
- National scale: Merankabandi has expanded from a pilot in 2016 to a nationwide program in 2022, reaching over 1.5 million people across all provinces, with women representing 97 percent of primary recipients.
- Income generation and jobs: Cash transfers combined with productive inclusion are helping poor households develop small businesses and livelihoods. By 2029, the program is expected to support around 900,000 people with income-earning opportunities, approximately 50 percent of which is for women.
- Shock response: The national system enabled rapid responses to floods and food crises, delivering emergency support to more than 100,000 affected households. Over the coming two years, the program could double this number if eligible shocks occur.
- Systems strengthening: Investments in a Unified Social Registry, CORE-MIS, and digital payments have established the foundations of Burundi’s national social protection system and will enable sustained nationwide coverage and faster, more coordinated responses to climate shocks and refugee inflows
Contribution to WBG Targets and Jobs
Merankabandi directly supports the WBG’s social protection targets of supporting at least 500 million people in need by 2030, by expanding social protection support to over 1.5 million people. Its Social Registry is also used by the World Bank–financed Solar Energy Project —Soleil-Nyakiriza—to help vulnerable households access subsidized solar kits, contributing to Mission 300. In addition, the program advances shock responsive cash transfers and the distribution of seeds and fertilizers to help communities cope with floods and food insecurity. Investments in productive inclusion activities that link rural households—mostly women—to agri-food value chains and self-employment support the building blocks for scale up under AgriConnect.
Lessons Learned
One key lesson is that strong national systems make support more effective and sustainable. By investing in digital tools and government leadership, the program was able to reach families across the country and respond quickly when floods and food crises occurred. A second lesson is that combining cash assistance with opportunities to earn an income with startup capital creates lasting impact. Helping families meet immediate needs while supporting small businesses and livelihoods—especially for women—enabled households to recover from shocks and build more stable, resilient income.
Next Steps
The WBG will continue to support the institutionalization of Burundi’s social protection system, with a clear shift toward government‑managed delivery, aligned with social protection targets on expanding income opportunities at scale. Priority will be given to strengthening core systems to ensure sustainability, shock responsiveness, and efficient coordination across sectors. The WBG will deepen convergence between social protection, job creation, and the digital economy, linking income support to productive inclusion, entrepreneurship, and digital financial services. Analytics and evidence will be leveraged to inform broader human development policies, including nutrition, education, and jobs. Continued engagement will also capitalize on regional programs on women’s economic empowerment to accelerate human capital accumulation, close gender gaps, and sustain resilient livelihoods, particularly in the face of climate and food shocks.