Assessment of the impact of the PIP approach on farmers’ motivation, resilience and stewardship in Burundi

This report assesses the impact of PIP, an approach used by the PAPAB project in Burundi. PIP (Plan Intégré Paysan) enables farmers to develop a vision for their development and to make a plan to realize it. In this way they become motivated to invest in their farms. Comparison of PIP farmers with non-PIP farmers showed that PIP is effective and improved the livelihoods of most PIP farmers.

The PAPAB project (Projet d’Appui à la Productivité Agricole au Burundi), funded by the Dutch Embassy in Bujumbura, was implemented from 2015 to 2020. Its objective was to assist smallholder farmers in increasing food production by promoting market-oriented, climate resilient and sustainable agricultural techniques supported by targeted fertilizer subsidies. The project was implemented by a consortium led by the International Fertilizer Development Center. PAPAB applied PIP as its core intervention strategy. The impact assessment study which was conducted by Oxfam, was meant to produce evidence as to the effectiveness and the workings of the PIP approach and to provide recommendations for the its application and further development in future interventions in Burundi and elsewhere.