Burundi Programme Inclusive Decisions At Local level (IDEAL) The Burundi country programme aims to enhance human security at local level and the legitimacy of local governments in Burundi and to strengthen social cohesion within communities. Given the current context it is difficult to judge how the political and security situation in Burundi will develop in the short and middle long term. However, VNG International intends to continue its support to ABELO, the local governments and their communities as we judge it crucial that, especially now, initiatives to support inclusive dialogue at various levels continue in order to build towards a peaceful solution of the current crisis and a more prosperous future for the young population of the country. Investing in more inclusive, transparent and accountable local governments may prove a positive catalyst for reinforcing the democratic dialogue, addressing drivers of fragility at local level and ultimately the restauration of the social contract between population and local government institutions. Building on the LGCP, the Restoring the Contract programme (in the framework of reconstruction tender phase I) and ABELO’s expertise and network, VNG International aims to support a eight pilot communes and its communities in terms of conflict prevention and participatory, transparent, inclusive and conflict-sensitive local decision making and budgeting processes. ABELO, as a representative body of all 119 Burundian communes, will be supported in to lobby and advocate on behalf of its members for a more secure and resilient policy and institutional environment at local level. Central in our approach will be women’s and youth’s equal access to and full participation in decision making and power structures at the local level and more gender sensitive local government policies and services. The IDEAL Burundi programme will work towards achieving the following outputs:
* Output 1.1 In (pilot) municipalities, functional dialogue, coordination and monitoring structures for local human security are in place. 
* Output 1.2 The capabilities of (pilot) municipalities and their local human security committees to coordinate and monitor  dialogue-based human security platforms open to the population are increased.
* Output 1.3 The capabilities of (pilot) municipalities and their local human security committees to be responsive to gender-specific human security needs are increased.
* Output 2.1 The capabilities of (pilot) municipalities and their local human security committees to plan and budget on human security in an inclusive, transparent and conflict-sensitive manner are increased. 
* Output 2.2 The capabilities of (pilot) municipalities and their local human security committees to facilitate women’s and youth’s equal access to and full participation in the decision making on human security are improved.
* Output 2.3 The capabilities of civil society, in particular women and youth organisations, in (pilot) municipalities to effectively participate in local decision making processes on human security are improved. 
* Output 3.1 The capabilities of ABELO and its women network RFEL to develop, implement, monitor and regularly update its advocacy strategy in relation to human security and conduct an evidence-based lobby towards the central government and the international community.
* Output 3.2 The capabilities of ABELO and its women network RFEL to deliver services to all its members on human security are improved.
* Output 3.3 The capabilities of ABELO and its women network RFEL to mainstream gender in their own policies and services are improved. The impact of the overall IDEAL programme is: The stronger social contract between local governments and citizens has enhanced local governments' capacity to cope with fragility risks.

The outcomes of the IDEAL Burundi programme are:
* Outcome 1: Coordination and monitoring at municipal level on human security is more responsive (in particular to the needs of women and youth), effective and conflict sensitive. 
* Outcome 2: Decision-making, planning and budgeting processes at the municipal level in the area of human security are more inclusive, participatory and conflict-sensitive.
* Outcome 3: ABELO’s services to municipalities and lobby and advocacy efforts contribute to improving the policy and institutional environments for municipalities in Burundi, so that they can address Human Security issues more effectively. The programme will be initially implemented in eight pilot communes (Province of Bururi (6): Bururi, Matana, Mugamba, Rutovu, Songa, Vyanda; Province of Rutana (2) : Gitanga, Bukemba). In the last two years of the programme, lessons learned and training materials will be disseminated to all 119 communes in Burundi through ABELO.