Burundi Lays Its Digital Economy Foundations
From Digital ID systems, Data protection and cybersecurity laws, AI strategies, and universal connectivity, Burundi has embarked on a bold digital journey to redefine governance, business, and daily life. However, insufficient and outdated digital public infrastructure, goods, and related challenges still impede progress, despite initiatives to overcome them.
This series takes you inside the country’s push toward ambitious digital transformation. Current initiatives, challenges, and expected outcomes.
This series has been produced under the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Journalism Fellowship for Eastern Africa and Media Partnership with CIPESA.
Part two digs deep into how Burundi is laying the foundations of its digital economy through PAFEN, a World Bank–backed program that expands high‑speed internet access and digitalizes public administration and services to strengthen governance.
PAFEN: Activities in progress
“Several activities are currently being prepared, while others are already in the implementation phase,” said Bienvenu Irakoze, Executive Director of the Secrétariat Exécutif des Technologies de l’Information et de la Communication (SETIC) and coordinator of the PAFEN program.
For him, the program has already begun to yield results, while other activities are underway.
Backed by the World Bank, PAFEN (Projet d’appui aux fondations de l’économie numérique) aims to expand access to high-speed Internet, modernize public administration, and strengthen digital governance.
To ensure the success of this initiative, President Evariste Ndayishimiye signed a decree on January 27, 2025, establishing the National Steering Committee for the Digitalization of Public Services (CNPDSP).
At that time, this committee was under the authority of the Prime Minister’s Office and was tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Master Plan for the Digitalization of Public Services 2023–2033, which serves as the strategic framework for PAFEN.
“Digitalization is no longer an option; it is a necessity to bring the State closer to its citizens,” declared the former Prime Minister.
PAFEN rests on three major objectives: expanding digital access, transforming public administration, and strengthening institutional coordination. In practice, this means rehabilitating eight blocks of buildings to host new infrastructure, extending Internet coverage to underserved areas, and creating digital platforms to manage public finances and human resources.
The former Minister of Communication, Information Technology and Media, Léocadie Ndacayisaba, who introduced the decree, emphasized: “We want a modern, transparent, and efficient administration. Citizens must be able to access services without unnecessary obstacles.”
The Steering Committee brings together ministers of Finance, Health, Interior, Education, Civil Service, Commerce, Social Affairs, Defense, and Justice. It will be supported by a Technical Committee composed of senior officials from these ministries and the Secrétariat Exécutif des Technologies de l’Information et de la Communication in Burundi (SETIC), which will be responsible for preparing action plans and monitoring progress.
The project had already identified several challenges: pollution from electronic equipment, rising energy consumption, potential population displacement, and risks associated with poor personal data management. Measures are planned to address these issues, including electronic waste management, training programs, and community awareness campaigns.
The overall budget amounts to nearly one million dollars and covers infrastructure, capacity building, and monitoring. “This is a strategic investment. The long-term benefits will far outweigh the costs,” noted a World Bank representative at the Burundi office.
For citizens, PAFEN carries hope. “If public services become accessible online, it will be a revolution for us,” said a student in Bujumbura. Businessmen, researchers, teachers, and other professionals share the students’ perspectives.
With PAFEN and the creation of the National Steering Committee, Burundi is clearly signaling its ambition: to make digitalization a driver of development and good governance. As President Ndayishimiye summed it up: “This is a historic step for our country. We must fully enter the digital age.”
For nearly three years, PAFEN has been running, Irakoze adds that “in rural communities, the goal is to extend 4G network coverage to 178 hills. At the same time, we are working to make digital devices more accessible and to strengthen digital skills among citizens.”
He noted that Burundi’s national territory is now covered by 97 percent 2G, 50 percent 3G, and 32 percent 4G networks. “These figures show that connectivity is improving, but we still have work to do to ensure equitable access across the country,” he added. Users mainly need improvements to maximize their internet-based activities.
Part three will take you into digital taxation platforms.