Calla flowers export Burundi has excellent growing conditions for production of flowers. The present floriculture in the country is so far limited to small scale production for the local market only. The Dutch partner G. Geerlings & Zonen B.V. is international market leader in the production of Calla bulbs and flowers (Zantedeschia) and will form a joint venture with Christa Flore a local flower producer and with Agro Trading Business, a grower which was engaged in production and export of roses before the civil war.During the project, the partners will establish a 3 ha production site in Mwaro region with a grading and packing house and a refrigerated storage for export via the airport in Bujumbura. The joint venture will produce some 1.5 million flower stems per year by the end of the project period. The flowers will be exported and sold through the auction in the Netherlands. The project expects to at least double its capacity in the two years after the PSI project period. The joint venture will offer employment to 53 persons (35 FTE). Employees and their families will be assisted in growing food crops (potatoes) on land that is temporarily unused in the crop rotation system. The community will have access to free drinking water from the boreholes that also serve the Calla production plantation. The company will introduce modern floriculture for export in Burundi and will actively support the development of a professional floriculture sector.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The CSR and HRM policies of the joint venture implemented under the third project result will follow and improve on the current policies of the local partners and the applicant. Verification showed adherence to the policies in practice i.e. the employee food cropping scheme of Christa Flore on fallow land.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsThe project will pay good salaries. Employees will receive fringe benefits including: training, housing allowance, daily free meal, healthcare insurance for the whole family, participation in a pension plan and micro credits.The project will make company land not used in rotation cropping available to employees and their families for food cropping (e.g. potatoes) and will assist with land preparation, irrigation water and provision of fertiliser and seed. Employees will be cropping for their own account.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeLocal varieties of Calla are produced on a small scale for the local market in Burundi but the varieties produced are not suitable for export. Modern production of Calla flowers for export is new altogether.•	Chain effectsImpact on local suppliersSince major inputs (bulbs, fertilisers, packing materials) are all imported, there is little or no impact on local suppliers. The employees that join the food cropping scheme may be regarded as outgrowers, but they are farming for their own account and products are not marketed through the joint venture.Impact on local customers or consumersNo local customers or consumers (apart from food cropping employees).•	Impact on the sectorThe project will collaborate with the government and sector partners in development of a professional floriculture sector. The project will provide training to chain partners and regulating authorities, organise a demonstration event and actively pursue the establishment of a flower association of stakeholders in the floriculture sector. This initiative will be supported by the government as confirmed by a letter of the Minister of Commerce and Industries.•	EnvironmentThe joint venture will cultivate African marigold (Tagetes) as a natural nematocide and mulch in crop rotation with Calla and food crops. Where possible the project will limit the use of water and use biological fertilisers.•	Position of womenThe staff employed by the company will be at least 60% female with 8% at medium- and high-level. Women will be treated equally to men in all respects (e.g. wages, training, opportunities for promotion and independence).	•	Impact on food safetyThe project positively contributes to food security through the food cropping scheme supported by the joint venture company.•	Impact on waterThe project will install at least three boreholes or water tap points and the employees and general population will be allowed free access. The project will establish a 3 ha nursery for production of some 1.5 million flower stems of Calla (Zantedeschia) per year and realise an export chain, including a refrigerated storage facility, for air transport and sales of the flowers through the Dutch