SOS Médias Burundi

Nakivale, July 9, 2025 – A direct humanitarian aid project is generating both hope and tension in the Nakivale refugee camp in southwestern Uganda. The American organization GiveDirectly plans to distribute $1,000 to 3,000 refugee households deemed the most vulnerable. This is an innovative initiative in a context where traditional aid is dwindling, but which is already dividing refugees there.

The NGO is currently verifying the data provided by the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). It plans to distribute $1,000 per household, in three installments over a twelve-month period, directly to the recipients’ mobile phones.

This aid is unconditional, meaning that recipients are not required to use it for any specific purpose. However, they are encouraged to invest in income-generating activities.

« We were instructed to think about what we could do with this money. Personally, I would like to start a small vegetable business, » says a pre-selected Burundian refugee.

Field verification and census underway

Teams of GiveDirectly monitors are currently traveling through villages in Nakivale camp, which is home to more than 150,000 refugees, including 33,000 Burundians, to confirm the lists provided by the UNHCR. The agents conduct interviews, assess household living conditions, and ask questions about the intended use of the aid.

Selection criteria generally include :

Elderly people;

Female heads of household without a spouse;

Households without a stable income;

Families with disabled or orphaned children.

A project that fills the void left by the UNHCR

The GiveDirectly project follows the recent suspension of direct cash assistance from the UNHCR in Nakivale. Due to a lack of funding, the UN agency had to interrupt several cash assistance programs, leaving many households without support.

« GiveDirectly fills a void. What we receive is no longer enough, and this amount can change a life, » explains a Congolese refugee.

The NGO specifies that it does not replace the UNHCR, but rather targets cases of extreme poverty that have been ignored or forgotten.

Frustration and concern among other refugees

Despite its good intentions, the initiative is causing tensions. Many unregistered refugees denounce an assistance system perceived as unfair and discriminatory.

« We all live in the same conditions of exile. Why helping some and not others? » « , exclaims an indignant Burundian refugee excluded from the program.

Community leaders fear a rise in jealousy, insecurity, and even crime :

« Giving money to a minority can fuel conflicts. There is a risk of theft, assault, or extortion. »

Several are calling on the UNHCR to reconsider its distribution methods and resume aid management to ensure a more collective and equitable approach.

The GiveDirectly model, a bold approach

Founded in 2009 by former Harvard University students, GiveDirectly is based on a simple philosophy :

People living in poverty know best what they need.

The NGO criticizes traditional approaches to humanitarian aid, where donors or NGOs make decisions for beneficiaries.

« Cash allows people to invest in what they need, instead of depending on decisions made thousands of miles away. »

The model has already been implemented in more than 15 countries. To date, more than 1.7 million people have received direct assistance totaling more than US$900 million, according to the NGO.

Innovative aid… but under scrutiny

The pilot project in Nakivale is being closely scrutinized by local NGOs, the UNHCR, and refugee communities. Its success will depend on the transparency of the selection process, the safety of beneficiaries, and the real long-term economic impact.

As traditional aid programs are running out of steam, GiveDirectly offers a bold alternative, based on trust and accountability. For many refugees, this may be a unique opportunity to regain control of their future.