In a bid to foster sustainable solutions and support durable reintegration, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has conducted a comprehensive data collection exercise in two pilot sites in Burundi: Gisuru and Kabuyenge. This initiative aims to provide evidence-based insights to humanitarian actors, local authorities, and technical partners. The data collected is crucial for informing decisions regarding the well-being of the repatriated population, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and host communities.
Utilizing a stratified sampling approach, the research team engaged with a representative sample of the population in the two selected hills. The sample size was determined based on the internal displacement tracking matrix (DTM) assessment from July 2025 and the repatriation figures provided by the Action of Repatriation and Reintegration of Returnees (ARRR). Interviews were conducted with household heads, and in their absence, with another adult member of the household over the age of 18. The data collection was carried out with the consent of trained volunteers from the Red Cross of Burundi, who were skilled in the DTM methodology and data collection questionnaire on tablets.
The collected data encompassed demographic distribution of the targeted households and information on eight criteria for assessing progress towards sustainable solutions, as outlined by the Inter — Agency Standing Committee (IASC). These criteria include safety and security, adequate standard of living, access to livelihoods and employment, restoration of housing, land, and property, access to personal documents, family reunification, participation in public affairs, and access to effective justice. The data gathered from the two hills covered 1,744 households, including 1,267 from the host community, 432 repatriated households, and 45 IDP households.
The results, which are representative at the commune and population group levels with a 95% confidence level and a 5% margin of error, are expressed in terms of average scores for each criterion. Additionally, qualitative data were gathered through group discussions with repatriated men and women and those from the host community. This comprehensive approach ensures a holistic understanding of the progress and challenges faced by all stakeholders involved in the reintegration process in Burundi.
Source: reliefweb
Original author: International Organization for Migration
