As part of this initiative, an operational planning and coordination workshop was held on 29 and 30 July, bringing together 39 representatives from national institutions, local authorities, the media, artists’ federations, civil society and partner organizations.
Funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund and jointly implemented by UNDP, UNESCO and the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), the project supports Burundian communities in addressing the past and healing trauma. The component implemented by UNESCO specifically draws on culture, media and information, as well as contemporary and heritage based artistic expressions, to strengthen peaceful coexistence and contribute to reconciliation.
The diversity of stakeholders brought together in Bujumbura made it possible to connect this ambition with the institutional, territorial and community realities of implementation. Over two days, participants harmonized their understanding of the project objectives, clarified the responsibilities of each partner and agreed on the coordination mechanisms needed to ensure complementarity across interventions.
This collaborative process resulted in the validation of a consolidated operational plan for the period from August to December 2026, a matrix defining the distribution of responsibilities, and a framework for managing security, institutional and social risks.
Building on this shared foundation, participants then defined the modalities for implementing the cultural, media and community based interventions. Discussions focused in particular on the organization of artistic residencies, the use of art as a means of expression and support for trauma healing, the production of media content adapted to local realities and sensitive to trauma, as well as the referral of persons requiring specialized psychosocial support. This combination of artistic creation, responsible communication and psychosocial support will help ensure that activities are adapted to the experiences and needs of the communities concerned.
The territorial anchoring of these interventions was also strengthened through the active participation of the institutions concerned, including the Ministry of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, and the Burundi National Commission for UNESCO. Their involvement helped align the activities with national priorities for peace consolidation, while preparing for local coordination within the intervention areas. The partners therefore agreed to establish a local coordination mechanism under the authority of the territorial administration, as well as a shared communication platform linking field teams and project coordination. These mechanisms will facilitate the flow of information, the monitoring of activities and the regular reporting of results.
read more: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-establishes-operational-framework-dialogue-and-trauma-healing-activities-burundi?hub=701
