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Box 3.8. UNDP Burundi’s 3x6 approach: Linking interventions across Tracks A, B, and C
UNDP Burundi has developed an innovative approach to the socioeconomic reintegration of returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and ex-combatants.
The “3x6 approach” is creating conditions for conflict-affected people to participate in emergency employment and take control of their own development
processes and outcomes. Participants are encouraged and enabled to save part of their income, form associations, invest in the local economy, and
access a range of markets. This approach links interventions across Tracks A, B, and C by building upon livelihoods stabilization to a longer-term vision for
sustainable employment, market development, capacity development, local economic recovery, and inclusive economic growth. Such an approach is innovative
because of its promotion of savings rather than credit and its use of mechanisms to share risk and make choices about economic development. Ongoing
monitoring and evaluation is expected to lead to lessons for application in other crisis and post-crisis situations.
The 3x6 approach consists of three principles and six steps, as follows:
Principle 1: Inclusiveness
Principle 2: Ownership
Principle 3: Sustainability
Step 1: Engaging and enrolling participants
Step 2: Generating income
Step 3: Promoting savings by participants
Step 4: Joint venturing
Step 5: Investing
Step 6: Expanding and accessing markets
Principle 1: Inclusiveness. A Community Reconstruction Service invites returnees, IDPs, ex-combatants, and host/crisis-affected community members to
participate in temporary employment on micro-projects. The micro-projects are based on community-defined needs and priorities, and they lead to results
for the community. Local administrators and members of communal committees select and monitor the micro-projects. These projects involve building
or rebuilding community infrastructure, brick making for school buildings, reforestation and cleanup efforts, and the construction of homes for vulnerable
households. So far, UNDP has funded 85 micro-projects in areas of Burundi with high concentrations of returnees, IDPs, and ex-combatants. These microprojects
have created three months of employment for more than 6,000 people and injected US$ 2.2 million into the communities. Seventy percent of the
participants are returnees, IDPs, or ex-combatants, and 30 percent are members of the host/crisis-affected communities. The participatory and inclusive
process pursued by the Community Reconstruction Service has positively affected the behaviour of conflict-affected people, helped to build trust within their
communities, and contributed to the revival of the local production and service sectors.
Principle 2: Ownership. Participants in the Community Reconstruction Service are required to save US$ 1 of their daily salary of US$ 3, enabling each worker
to save about US$ 75 in total. The savings are deposited into an account at a financial institution. Throughout their period of temporary employment, participants
are encouraged to form associations, each of which will use part of its members’ savings to invest in a collective economic activity. UNDP has committed
to contributing US$ 3 to the economic activity for each dollar invested by an association. One hundred and twenty associations are currently receiving
technical support for the development of their economic activities. This support is designed to improve the management skills of association members and
to ensure that their economic activities will perform well in the local economy. The associations have created a dynamic process of social accountability and
risk sharing.
Principle 3: Sustainability. The underpinnings for the final phase of the 3x6 approach—the creation of sustainable jobs through market access—are currently
in the planning stages. These underpinnings include value chain analysis, policy mapping and analysis, strategy development, market research, and an
assessment of existing market services. The final phase is intended to enable the associations to evaluate potential market opportunities and make investment
decisions based on objective criteria. UNDP is supporting the negotiation of a guarantee fund with a financial institution for the benefit of returnees,
IDPs, ex-combatants, and host/crisis-affected community members. Fundraising is also underway for an in-depth analysis of subsectors that could be developed.
The analysis will be a collaborative effort with government ministries, other development partners, the private sector, and civil society organizations.
Livelihoods & Economic Recovery in Crisis Situations