Infrastructure and access
- Last-Mile / Access Infrastructure4
- Digital Public Infrastructure1
- Infrastructure Planning / Mapping / Funding1
- Institutional / School Connectivity Infrastructure1
- Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure1
Digital Divide Country Profile · Africa
BI
Burundi
Closing the digital divide, expanding meaningful connectivity, and advancing digital education and workforce participation.
Location in the world
Burundi
Africa
Burundi🇧🇮
- Population (2024)
- 14,047,786
- Total area
- 27,830 km²
- Area in square miles
- 10,745.22 mi²
- Coastline
- Landlocked · 0 km
National digital inclusion context
A portfolio-based view of access, capability, and outcomes.
This profile organizes the initiatives directly connected to Burundi in the global research inventory. It follows the study's country-profile framework: national context, broadband infrastructure, inclusion practices, education and workforce connections, implementation actors, and intended contribution.
The documented portfolio emphasizes Last-Mile / Access Infrastructure, Digital Public Infrastructure, Infrastructure Planning / Mapping / Funding, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digital Identity / e-ID. The profile treats infrastructure, affordability, capability, institutions, support, and outcomes as an interconnected system.
Portfolio pattern
What the documented response contains.
Counts reflect source-workbook tags. One initiative may appear in multiple infrastructure or technology categories.
Specific technologies
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)1
- Digital Identity / e-ID1
- E-Learning / Virtual Learning1
Intervention classification
- Neither explicitly identified14
- Infrastructure only8
- Specific Technology only3
Education and workforce
Connectivity becomes consequential through participation.
4 initiatives explicitly connect to education, K–12, or college/university contexts, and 0 connect to workforce development. Other investments may enable these outcomes indirectly.
Networks, service availability, devices, and connection quality.
Skills, confidence, accessibility, navigation, and support.
Education, work, health, government, and civic opportunity.
Governance, operations, maintenance, funding, and learning.
Project and initiative portfolio
25 documented records
Every directly tagged record is shown with details and supporting URLs preserved from the research workbook.
01Digital skills
Basic Digital Literacy Scheme
2022–ongoing · Underserved communitiesView details
Digital skills
Basic Digital Literacy Scheme
2022–ongoing · Underserved communitiesStatus / period2022–ongoingLocationUnderserved communitiesPopulationFirst-time users, women and youthOrganizationsGovernment of Burundi; World Bank
Builds practical skills needed to use broadband, digital finance and public services.
Activities and approach: Community digital-literacy training
Education
02Digital payment infrastructure
BI-Switch and BRB Digital Payment Infrastructure Upgrade
2022–ongoing · National financial/payment networkView details
Digital payment infrastructure
BI-Switch and BRB Digital Payment Infrastructure Upgrade
2022–ongoing · National financial/payment networkStatus / period2022–ongoingLocationNational financial/payment networkPopulationCitizens, government recipients and payment providersOrganizationsBank of Republic of Burundi; BI-Switch; World Bank
Improves interoperability of digital payments and lays groundwork for government-to-person payments.
Activities and approach: National switch upgrade; payment hardware/network
03Broadband scale-up
Burundi Digital Foundations – Digital Foundations Additional Financing – Broadband Scale-Up
2022–ongoing · Underserved communitiesView details
Broadband scale-up
Burundi Digital Foundations – Digital Foundations Additional Financing – Broadband Scale-Up
2022–ongoing · Underserved communitiesStatus / period2022–ongoingLocationUnderserved communitiesPopulationUnderserved citizensOrganizationsGovernment of Burundi; World Bank
Additional financing scales up broadband and digital-service enablers.
Activities and approach: Broadband expansion and institutional capacity
04Digital public services
Burundi Digital Foundations – Government Digital Services Enablers
2022–ongoing · NationwideView details
Digital public services
Burundi Digital Foundations – Government Digital Services Enablers
2022–ongoing · NationwideStatus / period2022–ongoingLocationNationwidePopulationCitizens and government agenciesOrganizationsGovernment of Burundi; World Bank
Builds digital foundations needed for online public services alongside expanded broadband.
Activities and approach: Government digital platforms
05Local broadband access
Burundi Digital Foundations – Local Connectivity Access Investments
2022–ongoing · Coverage-gap areasView details
Local broadband access
Burundi Digital Foundations – Local Connectivity Access Investments
2022–ongoing · Coverage-gap areasStatus / period2022–ongoingLocationCoverage-gap areasPopulationUnconnected communitiesOrganizationsGovernment of Burundi; World Bank
Bridges network coverage and access gaps through local broadband investment.
Activities and approach: Last-mile broadband
06Government/public-sector broadband
Burundi Digital Foundations – Public Institution Connectivity
2022–ongoing · Public institutionsView details
Government/public-sector broadband
Burundi Digital Foundations – Public Institution Connectivity
2022–ongoing · Public institutionsStatus / period2022–ongoingLocationPublic institutionsPopulationGovernment users and citizensOrganizationsGovernment of Burundi; World Bank
Connects government/public institutions to improve access and digital service delivery.
Activities and approach: Institutional broadband
07Reverse-auction rural broadband
Burundi Digital Foundations – Rural Internet Access Scheme
2022–ongoing · Rural areasView details
Reverse-auction rural broadband
Burundi Digital Foundations – Rural Internet Access Scheme
2022–ongoing · Rural areasStatus / period2022–ongoingLocationRural areasPopulationUnconnected rural communitiesOrganizationsGovernment of Burundi; World Bank
Funds last-mile expansion where commercial incentives are insufficient.
Activities and approach: Reverse auctions; open-access infrastructure
08Government broadband / NOC
COMGOV Government Network and NOC Upgrade
2022–ongoing · Central government networkView details
Government broadband / NOC
COMGOV Government Network and NOC Upgrade
2022–ongoing · Central government networkStatus / period2022–ongoingLocationCentral government networkPopulationMinistries, agencies and public-service usersOrganizationsSETIC; Government of Burundi; World Bank
Expands and climate-proofs government connectivity and improves central network operations.
Activities and approach: Government network optimization; NOC infrastructure
09Cybersecurity / trust
Cyber Resilience and Data Protection Foundations
2022–ongoing · NationwideView details
Cybersecurity / trust
Cyber Resilience and Data Protection Foundations
2022–ongoing · NationwideStatus / period2022–ongoingLocationNationwidePopulationDigital-service users and public agenciesOrganizationsGovernment of Burundi; World Bank
Builds cybersecurity and privacy institutions necessary for safe digital adoption.
Activities and approach: CSIRT; data-protection framework; cybersecurity capacity
10Digital public services
Flagship G2P and G2B Digital Services
2022–2027 rollout · Nationwide selected servicesView details
Digital public services
Flagship G2P and G2B Digital Services
2022–2027 rollout · Nationwide selected servicesStatus / period2022–2027 rolloutLocationNationwide selected servicesPopulationCitizens and businessesOrganizationsGovernment of Burundi; World Bank
Launches high-impact digital services after connectivity and shared infrastructure foundations are in place.
Activities and approach: Government-to-person and government-to-business e-services
11Higher-education broadband
Higher Education Connectivity Scheme / BERNET AfricaConnect
2022–ongoing · Higher education institutionsView details
Higher-education broadband
Higher Education Connectivity Scheme / BERNET AfricaConnect
2022–ongoing · Higher education institutionsStatus / period2022–ongoingLocationHigher education institutionsPopulationStudents, faculty and researchersOrganizationsGovernment of Burundi; BERNET; World Bank
Connects Burundi education/research network to regional research capacity and improves campus broadband.
Activities and approach: BERNET connectivity; AfricaConnect membership; e-learning
EducationCollege / university
12GovTech core system
Modernization of Public Financial Management – new IFMIS rollout
Approved / implementation · Central governmentView details
GovTech core system
Modernization of Public Financial Management – new IFMIS rollout
Approved / implementation · Central governmentStatus / periodApproved / implementationLocationCentral governmentPopulationFinance, treasury and spending agenciesOrganizationsMinistry of Finance; World Bank
Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.
Activities and approach: New IFMIS purchase and rollout
13Digital public infrastructure
National Data Exchange and Interoperability Layer
2022–ongoing · Nationwide public administrationView details
Digital public infrastructure
National Data Exchange and Interoperability Layer
2022–ongoing · Nationwide public administrationStatus / period2022–ongoingLocationNationwide public administrationPopulationCitizens and public agenciesOrganizationsGovernment of Burundi; World Bank
Creates shared data infrastructure so agencies can exchange data and deliver integrated services.
Activities and approach: Interoperability layer; shared data infrastructure
14Digital identity
National Digital Identification Strategy
2022–ongoing · NationwideView details
Digital identity
National Digital Identification Strategy
2022–ongoing · NationwideStatus / period2022–ongoingLocationNationwidePopulationCitizens needing secure online authenticationOrganizationsGovernment of Burundi; World Bank
Creates strategy and foundations for trusted digital identity and service access.
Activities and approach: Digital ID strategy; civil registration knowledge exchange
15Broadband mapping / QoS
PAFEN broadband coverage and quality monitoring capability
Implementation / procurement · NationwideView details
Broadband mapping / QoS
PAFEN broadband coverage and quality monitoring capability
Implementation / procurement · NationwideStatus / periodImplementation / procurementLocationNationwidePopulationConsumers and plannersOrganizationsRegulator; PAFEN
Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.
Activities and approach: Coverage mapping; service-quality monitoring
16Broadband enabling environment
PAFEN connectivity-market regulatory capacity package
Implementation · NationwideView details
Broadband enabling environment
PAFEN connectivity-market regulatory capacity package
Implementation · NationwideStatus / periodImplementationLocationNationwidePopulationConsumers and operatorsOrganizationsGovernment; regulator; PAFEN
Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.
Activities and approach: Regulatory strengthening; competition oversight
17Rural last-mile broadband
PAFEN rural reverse-auction broadband procurement tranche
Implementation / 2025-2026 · Commercially unserved rural areasView details
Rural last-mile broadband
PAFEN rural reverse-auction broadband procurement tranche
Implementation / 2025-2026 · Commercially unserved rural areasStatus / periodImplementation / 2025-2026LocationCommercially unserved rural areasPopulationRural households and communitiesOrganizationsGovernment of Burundi; PAFEN; operators
Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.
Activities and approach: Reverse auction; provider co-financing; open-access deployment
18Spectrum management
PAFEN spectrum-management modernization
Implementation / procurement · NationwideView details
Spectrum management
PAFEN spectrum-management modernization
Implementation / procurement · NationwideStatus / periodImplementation / procurementLocationNationwidePopulationMobile users and operatorsOrganizationsRegulator; PAFEN
Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.
Activities and approach: Spectrum tools; monitoring; staff capacity
19Government ICT equipment
PFM core-system equipment deployment to ministries and agencies
Implementation · Central ministries/agenciesView details
Government ICT equipment
PFM core-system equipment deployment to ministries and agencies
Implementation · Central ministries/agenciesStatus / periodImplementationLocationCentral ministries/agenciesPopulationPublic servantsOrganizationsGovernment of Burundi; World Bank
Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.
Activities and approach: Core systems and equipment rollout
20Digital PFM workflow
PFM digital budget execution, accounting and reporting modernization
Implementation · Central governmentView details
Digital PFM workflow
PFM digital budget execution, accounting and reporting modernization
Implementation · Central governmentStatus / periodImplementationLocationCentral governmentPopulationTreasury and oversight bodiesOrganizationsMinistry of Finance; World Bank
Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.
Activities and approach: Execution; accounting; reporting; data processing
21Digital PFM workflow
PFM digital budget preparation and program-budgeting modernization
Implementation · Central governmentView details
Digital PFM workflow
PFM digital budget preparation and program-budgeting modernization
Implementation · Central governmentStatus / periodImplementationLocationCentral governmentPopulationBudget institutionsOrganizationsMinistry of Finance; World Bank
Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.
Activities and approach: Program-budgeting configuration; digital preparation
22Public-sector digital skills
PFM digital change-management and user training
Implementation · Central governmentView details
Public-sector digital skills
PFM digital change-management and user training
Implementation · Central governmentStatus / periodImplementationLocationCentral governmentPopulationCivil servantsOrganizationsMinistry of Finance; World Bank
Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.
Activities and approach: Training; change management; process redesign
Education
23Shared digital services
Shared Government Digital Services Platform
2022–ongoing · Government ministries and agenciesView details
Shared digital services
Shared Government Digital Services Platform
2022–ongoing · Government ministries and agenciesStatus / period2022–ongoingLocationGovernment ministries and agenciesPopulationCitizens, businesses and civil servantsOrganizationsGovernment of Burundi; World Bank
Reduces fragmented systems by creating reusable shared government services.
Activities and approach: Shared G2G infrastructure/services
24Device affordability
Smart Device Access Scheme
2022–ongoing · Underserved rural communitiesView details
Device affordability
Smart Device Access Scheme
2022–ongoing · Underserved rural communitiesStatus / period2022–ongoingLocationUnderserved rural communitiesPopulationLow-income households, women and vulnerable groupsOrganizationsGovernment of Burundi; World Bank
Subsidizes broadband-compatible devices so newly covered users can actually access digital services.
Activities and approach: Device subsidies; community digital centres; charging solutions
25Digital literacy
UNESCO media and information literacy / digital competencies project
2024-2025 / ongoing · Burundi / regionalView details
Digital literacy
UNESCO media and information literacy / digital competencies project
2024-2025 / ongoing · Burundi / regionalStatus / period2024-2025 / ongoingLocationBurundi / regionalPopulationYouth, women, girls and marginalized groupsOrganizationsUNESCO; national partners
Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.
Activities and approach: MIL; AI/disinformation literacy; youth capacity building
Education
Evidence boundary
Read the portfolio as a starting point, not a final verdict.
Project records document interventions and intended contributions; they do not alone prove nationwide coverage, causal impact, or durable closure.
Profiles will deepen as national statistics, policy documents, evaluations, and implementation evidence are incorporated. Source links allow inspection of underlying evidence.
Evidence and contextProfile Sources+
These sources support the country-level demographic, geographic, and connectivity context. Sources tied to individual projects remain with their project records and are not repeated here.
- Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Burundi. The World Factbook. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/burundi/
- International Telecommunication Union. (n.d.). ITU DataHub: Country ICT data. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://datahub.itu.int/
- World Bank. (n.d.). Individuals using the Internet (% of population): Burundi. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.ZS?locations=BI
- World Bank. (n.d.). Population, total: Burundi. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=BI