Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Moving to Burundi to work, start a business, or manage an international project means entering a world where relationships sometimes matter as much as skills. In this East African country, the key to a strong network is not just a few well-chosen LinkedIn profiles; it is based on a deep understanding of the local culture, patience, and a real presence—both in the city and within the community.
For expatriates in Bujumbura, it is advisable to follow a concrete roadmap that combines local, regional, and online resources to develop a sustainable professional network.
Understanding the Landscape: A Culture of Connection First
Arriving in Burundi without any contacts, like a newcomer to Bujumbura who admitted knowing absolutely no one upon arrival, is not unusual. The difference between those who remain isolated and those who integrate quickly often comes down to one thing: the ability to engage with the local relationship-based logic.
Ubuntu as a Compass for Interactions
Burundian society is strongly influenced by the principle of “ubuntu”: the idea that people are deeply interdependent, that success is first and foremost collective, and that everyone is responsible for the well-being of the group. In the professional world, this translates into a preference for cooperation over cutthroat competition, and a commitment to long-term relationships rather than quick opportunities.
Percentage of employers in Burundi who prioritize cultural fit over technical skills during the initial screening of candidates.
For an expatriate, ignoring this dynamic means cutting yourself off from the main pathway to opportunities. Conversely, adopting an attitude of curiosity, respect, and sustained presence opens doors that will remain closed to those who only see the country through their laptop screen.
Hierarchy, Respect, and the Importance of the Collective
The Burundian professional landscape is structured by a clear hierarchy: age, seniority, and status command respect. In a meeting, you greet the most senior person first, readily use titles (Doctor, Mr., Mrs., President, Secretary General, etc.) along with the last name, and avoid directly contradicting a superior.
This sensitivity is not just about formality. In practice, decisions are often made at the top management level, whether it is a ministry, a large public enterprise like the Burundi Tea Office (OTB), or a parastatal entity. An expatriate who wants to move a project or collaboration forward must therefore learn to identify where the real decision-making power lies and win the trust of those interlocutors, sometimes through a respected local intermediary.
A project that benefits a community, a cooperative, or a group of young entrepreneurs is more likely to receive a sympathetic hearing than an initiative perceived as strictly individual.
Subtle Communication, Geared Toward Harmony
In business life, communication in Burundi is generally indirect and diplomatic. Saying “no” bluntly can be seen as harsh; people prefer phrases like “I’ll think about it,” “maybe another approach,” or “let’s let this idea mature.” Unspoken cues, silences, and non-verbal signals are therefore essential to decode.
Pauses in conversation are not necessarily awkward gaps to fill, but a time for reflection and respect. Being comfortable with these silences is a valuable social skill. Likewise, a slight nod, a gaze that turns away, or proverbial expressions can mean much more than a long explanation.
In this context, the expatriate who arrives with a very direct communication style, especially in meetings or negotiations, risks inadvertently offending their interlocutors. Taking cues from local codes—soft-spoken language, active listening, open-ended questions—helps build trust instead of undermining it.
Managing First Contacts: Greetings, Attitude, and Etiquette
The first moments of an encounter carry significant weight. In Burundi, the way you greet, introduce yourself, and lead the conversation can strengthen or break a potential relationship.
Greeting with Warmth… But Without Excessive Familiarity
Shake hands in most professional settings, both men and women, remembering to greet the oldest or most senior person first. A sincere smile and a frank but not insincere gaze signal respect and openness. In more conservative circles, the man waits for the woman to extend her hand first.
Using a few words in Kirundi, even very simple ones like “Amahoro” (peace) to greet or “Amakuru?” (how are you?) followed by “Ni meza” (I’m fine), is highly appreciated and can be enough to break the ice. Showing that you make the effort to use the local language, even if most of the exchange continues in French or English, is seen as a sign of respect and a desire to integrate.
Attire: A Message Not to Overlook
At work and in professional meetings, dress style remains rather conservative. Men typically wear suits or at least a simple shirt, women opt for modest dresses or suits, avoiding overly tight or flashy clothing. Closed-toe shoes are the norm in most professional contexts.
Some expatriates incorporate elements of traditional fabric, such as kitenge, into their everyday attire, for example as a tie or scarf. This approach allows them to show respect for local culture in a subtle way, without adopting a full outfit that might be perceived as an inappropriate costume.
Small Gestures, Big Impact
From the very first exchanges, a polite and composed attitude makes a difference: avoid speaking too loudly, showing anger or impatience in public, adopt an open and attentive body posture (don’t cross your arms, don’t lean back in your chair) to foster a climate of trust.
For gestures, it is better to point with your whole hand rather than with a finger, which is considered abrupt. Another key point: accept, within reason, invitations to share a coffee, a meal, or a drink. These informal moments are often much more decisive than the formal meeting itself.
Understanding where the nodes of power and influence lie helps structure a credible networking strategy. In Burundi, several sectors and institutions play a central role for an expatriate, whether they are an employee, consultant, entrepreneur, or NGO representative.
An Agricultural Country… But Not Only
Agriculture remains the backbone of Burundi’s economy: it accounts for about 30% of GDP. Coffee dominates exports, up to 93% of foreign sales according to some studies, but the country also produces tea, cotton, maize, sorghum, bananas, sweet potatoes, and cassava. Around these value chains orbit public actors (ITAB, IRAZ, OTB, CAPAD, BOAM), cooperatives, NGOs, and downstream companies (processing, logistics, export).
The following table illustrates a few key agricultural actors, useful to know if you want to network in this sector:
| Actor / Institution | Main Role | Interest for an Expatriate |
|---|---|---|
| Burundi Tea Office (OTB) | Managing the tea sector, supporting ~60,000 smallholders | Gateway to the tea sector, rural projects |
| SOSUMO | Sugar production on a concession of approx. 5,800 ha | Opportunities in agribusiness, logistics, energy |
| CAPAD (Confederation of Producers) | Grouping of peasant associations | Contact with the cooperative and associative world |
| BOAM (Burundi Organic Agricultural Movement) | Promotion of organic agriculture | Network for sustainable projects / organic certification |
| ITAB, IRAZ | Agronomic and zootechnical research | Technical partners for innovative projects |
For a professional in rural development, international trade, or green economy, these structures are natural entry points to multiply meetings, participate in workshops, or identify collaborative projects.
A Mining Sector in Transformation
In recent years, the mining sector has gained importance to the point of becoming, in 2019, the main source of foreign currency, ahead of coffee and tea. Activity remains largely dominated by artisanal mining (estimated at 40,000 direct jobs), but several companies and cooperatives structure the landscape: Tanganyika Mining Burundi, Ntega Mining Burundi, the COMEBU comptoir, as well as numerous cooperatives for gold and 3T minerals (tin, tungsten, tantalum).
The Burundian mining sector faces several major challenges: infrastructure, energy, governance, past license suspensions, and mistrust among actors. For an expatriate, any professional approach must be based on a precise understanding of the regulatory framework and aligned with national priorities, primarily defined by the ministry in charge of energy, mines, commerce and tourism, the Office of Mines and Quarries (OBM), and the Burundian Office for Environmental Protection (OBPE).
A sector diagnostic led by the World Bank, for example, relied on 21 questionnaires sent to industry representatives, showing how formal and informal exchanges remain crucial for obtaining a reliable picture of the field.
Weight of SMEs and Role of Chambers
Over 90% of the Burundian private sector consists of small and medium-sized enterprises, but their contribution to GDP remains relatively low (around 17%). This gap illustrates both growth potential and a need for strengthening managerial, financial, and commercial capacities.
Key institution for business representation and economic development in Burundi.
Plays a pivotal role in representing Burundian businesses before national and international bodies.
Regularly co-organizes workshops and conferences with international partners for skills development.
Organizes national workshops, such as on using trade agreements to develop small and medium-sized enterprises.
Constitutes an essential network hub for expatriates seeking local partners or understanding the economic fabric.
Institutions, NGOs, and Multilateral Organizations
Burundi hosts a significant number of international actors: World Bank (IDA, IFC, MIGA), various UN agencies (UNDP, WFP, UN Women, etc.), international NGOs (Médecins Sans Frontières, International Alert, Red Cross, etc.), humanitarian and development networks. The Burundi Red Cross, present since 1963 with 42 branches and over 600,000 volunteers, illustrates the scale of the associative fabric.
For an expatriate in cooperation or CSR, these structures provide multiple meeting opportunities: working groups, steering committees, joint projects, training sessions. More and more initiatives aim to map and connect these actors, in open data, through initiatives like Humanitarian OpenStreetMap or Humanitarian Data Exchange, with goals such as: identifying local organizations, promoting their visibility, and encouraging partnerships.
Where to Meet People in Bujumbura and Burundi?
Concretely, where can an expatriate start building connections, beyond the strict framework of their office? Several ecosystems coexist and complement each other.
Expat Communities: A Springboard, Not a Bubble
In Bujumbura, a structured expatriate community brings together several hundred people from about twenty different nationalities. A network like InterNations there, for example, has nearly 800 members in the formal community, and over 1,100 in a larger local group. Monthly events—restaurant outings, evenings at Archipel, informal get-togethers—allow newcomers to break isolation, ask practical questions (visa, housing, schooling, customs), and spot other professionals in their sector.
Dedicated Burundi forums on platforms like Expat.com or Reddit complement this online setup. They are useful for asking for information even before arrival, but become even more effective when they serve as a starting point for physical meetings.
For an expatriate, it is beneficial to rely on expat communities, but it is crucial not to become trapped in them. Restricting yourself exclusively to this circle limits access to local informal channels, which are often essential for obtaining relevant information and discovering opportunities on the ground.
Innovation Spaces, Incubators, and Tech Communities
The Burundian entrepreneurial ecosystem, still young, has been set in motion thanks to local initiatives. BujaHub, created in 2019 and based in Bujumbura, is emblematic of this dynamic. Born from collaboration between the Young African Development Foundation (YADF) and Save African Youth (SAY), this hub offers coworking space, incubation and acceleration programs, workshops, seminars, and events like the Innovation Week.
In a few years, BujaHub has supported over 100 startups, launched more than 25 programs, and brought together a community of over 35,000 members, including 45% women, with the support of around fifteen partners. Their Digital Ladies program, dedicated to women in the digital sector, illustrates the desire for inclusion.
For expatriates in digital, entrepreneurship, consulting, or training sectors, these places are ideal for meeting project leaders, developers, designers, potential investors, NGOs, and cooperation agencies. Offering a workshop, becoming a mentor, or working a few days in coworking allows you to build a network naturally.
Here is an overview of key spaces and initiatives interesting for networking in the entrepreneurial and digital sphere:
| Structure / Event | City | Type of Networking Opportunities |
|---|---|---|
| BujaHub | Bujumbura | Startups, freelancers, trainers, support structures |
| Biz Connect Burundi Fair | Bujumbura | Incubated entrepreneurs, major local groups, cooperations |
| Orange Corners Burundi Programs | Bujumbura | Young entrepreneurs, donors, innovation funds (OCIF) |
| Pilot Unbox – cashless ecosystem | Bujumbura | Fintech, public actors, Belgian cooperation (Enabel) |
The Biz Connect Burundi Fair, organized with partners like BRARUDI or Fabrimetal, for example, brought together around thirty incubated entrepreneurs and numerous institutions. Such events mix the private, public, and international worlds in a format conducive to informal contact-making.
Fairs, Workshops, and Conferences
Beyond the start-up universe, several types of events offer networking opportunities: workshops on trade agreements for SMEs, sectoral conferences (mining, agriculture, telecoms), regional meetings linked to the EAC or the Smart Africa Alliance, university colloquia.
Platforms like All Conference Alert list conferences in Bujumbura on topics such as globalization, attracting researchers, civil servants, NGO representatives, and businesses. For an expatriate, registering, or even proposing a presentation, allows you to position yourself as a serious interlocutor without being seen as a mere “passerby.”
All Conference Alert
National Professional Networks: Lawyers, Journalists, Evaluators, Athletes
Getting closer to Burundian professional associations is an excellent way to root yourself in the local landscape while discovering colleagues facing similar issues.
Among the examples:
– The National Bar Association (member of the Pan-African Lawyers Union) for lawyers and legal experts.
– The Burundian Union of Journalists (UBJ), affiliated with the International Federation of Journalists, for actors in media, communication, and advocacy.
– The National Evaluation Network of Burundi (RNEB), which brings together consultants, academics, and program managers around monitoring and evaluation issues.
The following table illustrates a few structured entry points:
| Network / Association | Target Audience | Possible Meeting Formats |
|---|---|---|
| RNEB (evaluation) | Consultants, NGO executives, academics | Technical workshops, university clubs, colloquia |
| UBJ (journalists) | Journalists, communicators, NGOs | Trainings, thematic meetings, conferences |
| Burundi Bar Association | Lawyers, legal experts, governance specialists | Seminars, working groups, advocacy |
| Sports Federations (FFB, NOC, etc.) | Sports, sponsorship, CSR | Matches, assemblies, sports-related social projects |
Sectors related to sports, via the Football Federation or the National Olympic Committee, can also offer unlikely but real networking opportunities, particularly around sponsorship, youth, social cohesion, or communication projects.
Leveraging Diaspora Networks and Specialized Platforms
For a Burundian expatriate returning home or a foreign professional wishing to connect with the diaspora, transnational initiatives play a growing role.
Tuvugane and the Burundian American Networking Symposium
Tuvugane is a platform designed by and for Burundian youth, especially those in the diaspora. Its mission is to create a community of young people capable of returning, investing, and reintegrating into the country, while maintaining exchanges abroad.
Among its flagship actions, the Burundian American Networking Symposium (BANS) stands out as a bridge between professionals, students, investors, and community leaders. Workshops, panels, inspiring talks, and networking sessions aim to foster concrete collaborations. For an expatriate interested in investing in Burundi, educational cooperation, or diaspora entrepreneurship, this type of event is an exceptional platform.
The online ‘Tuvugane Tuesday’ conversations allow you to listen and participate without being physically present in Burundi. They are particularly useful for people preparing a future project in the country.
Business Portals and B2B Matchmaking Platforms
Beyond generalist social networks, specialized platforms already facilitate the search for business partners, clients, or suppliers linked to Burundi. A local business portal, for example, offers a company database (hotels, service providers, service companies), educational programs, an economic review, partner search features, chat, co-investment listings, and webinar organization.
The B2BeeMatch platform, present in more than 70 countries and 130 sub-sectors, allows SMEs, consultants, or expatriates based in Burundi to connect with companies, mentors, or clients internationally. It offers integrated tools for video calls and secure exchanges. For a professional in Bujumbura, registering expands the local network towards regional (Kampala, Kigali) and international collaborations.
WhatsApp Groups and Informal Networks
The presence of WhatsApp groups dedicated to Burundi (information, mutual aid, sometimes even thematic like dating or promoting activities) testifies to the central role of this application in local sociability. For professionals, more serious groups often exist around a sector (agriculture, digital, NGOs), a geographic area, or a project.
The basic rules for using these spaces as networking levers without losing credibility: respect the set themes, avoid spam, prioritize useful contributions (information, calls for tenders, feedback) and use private messages to deepen a professional discussion.
Making the Most of Digital in a Poorly Connected Country
Burundi remains one of the least connected countries in the world in terms of Internet penetration: barely 11 to 12% of the population is estimated to be connected, roughly 1.7 million people out of 14 million. Subscriptions are primarily via mobile, with just over 8 million active SIM cards, and usage remains concentrated in cities, among young people and professionals.
For an expatriate, this has several implications.
Building Your Online Visibility… Without Forgetting Ground Realities
LinkedIn, Twitter (or X), a showcase website, or a portfolio remain useful, especially for interacting with the diaspora, donors, and international partners. Joining professional groups on LinkedIn, following Burundian leaders (ministers, business leaders, NGO heads, entrepreneurs) and interacting constructively (comments, shares, personalized invitations) helps build a digital reputation.
However, imagining that a simple well-optimized profile will be enough to open all doors would be illusory. The majority of local recruitment still relies on recommendation, reputation, and word-of-mouth. Consistency between your physical presence (meetings, participation in events) and your online presence becomes decisive.
Overcoming Technical Limitations
The country benefits from a national fiber backbone (Burundi Backbone System) covering the 18 provinces, a local Internet exchange point, as well as submarine connections via EASSy and redundancy agreements with Tanzania (SEACOM). Yet, a good portion of the available international capacity is unused. Cost, quality of service, and lack of deployment in some areas partly explain this situation.
Alternative solutions, such as satellite Internet, are developing: low-orbit constellations now cover the entire territory, with speeds of 50 to 200 Mbps via kits distributed locally. For an expatriate who teleworks or runs a business heavily dependent on digital technology, investing in this type of access can secure their activities… but does not negate the need to understand that many local partners remain poorly or unconnected.
This means adapting your practices: avoid exchanges exclusively based on heavy videoconferencing, prepare paper copies for meetings, accept that some interlocutors prefer phone calls or SMS to email, and do not assume that large files shared in the cloud will be spontaneously downloaded by your Burundian colleagues.
Using Social Media Marketing Discernment
Service panels dedicated to social media in Burundi offer to support businesses and institutions in managing their presence on Facebook, Instagram, or other platforms: audience growth, moderation, multilingual content (Kirundi, French, English). These services, used by various sectors (commerce, education, tourism, crafts), testify to the importance of digital for reaching the urban public.
For an expatriate developing a client-facing activity, digital tools accelerate visibility but should not replace real interactions. For example, a restaurant targeting expats and locals will gain more by organizing themed evenings with expat networks, hosting InterNations events or BujaHub afterworks, than by simply buying followers on social networks.
Facing Obstacles: Language, Trust, Corruption, Slowness of Decisions
Even armed with good intentions, an expatriate in Burundi quickly encounters structural difficulties. Recognizing them allows you to manage them instead of suffering them.
Language Barriers, Local and Expat Side
The Burundian linguistic landscape is complex: Kirundi as the common national language, French as the language of administration and business, English and Swahili as regional languages integrated into the EAC. Many professionals mainly master Kirundi and French, and are less comfortable in English, even though regional positions within the EAC require this language, sometimes for tests and interviews.
For a Francophone expatriate, not learning some basics of Kirundi can, in the medium term, hinder integration into teams, communication with certain partners, and understanding of social dynamics. Furthermore, for interventions at the regional level, mastery of English remains essential.
On the local side, studies on English students at the University of Burundi show that many graduate with an intermediate level, more comfortable with reading comprehension than oral expression. This means that an Anglophone expatriate will benefit greatly from slowing down their pace a little, favoring simple vocabulary, and even relying on written materials to avoid misunderstandings.
Fragile Trust in Institutions and Fear of Corruption
As in many contexts, trust in public institutions and certain private actors is not a given. Various international organizations (ANDE, CIPE…) are, moreover, working with entrepreneurs to help them navigate corruption risks, training them in ethics, promoting integrity charters, and fostering peer networks to exchange good practices.
For an expatriate, it is crucial to adopt a transparent approach in professional relationships to navigate environments where corruption may exist. This involves clarifying mutual expectations, carefully documenting all agreements, and refusing dubious arrangements, without falling into moral judgment towards the host country. A key strategy is to surround yourself with local partners known for their integrity, which becomes a central element in building a reliable network.
The Long Timeframe of Decisions
Important decisions—contract signing, project launch, partnership validation—often take time. Internal hierarchies, formal and informal consultations, and caution towards commitments explain these delays.
The expatriate must integrate this temporality into managing their schedule and objectives. Following up insistently, putting pressure, or adopting an impatient posture can be counterproductive. Conversely, maintaining contact, showing consistency, demonstrating loyalty and long-term commitment strengthens credibility and trust, which paradoxically ends up accelerating decision-making.
Structuring Your Networking Strategy: Some Practical Pointers
All these cultural and structural dimensions remain abstract if they are not translated into concrete daily actions. Without falling into the obsession of a “network plan,” it is useful to clarify a few priorities.
Define Realistic Objectives Aligned with the Local Context
Before even multiplying business cards, it is relevant to ask: what do I really want to gain from my network in Burundi? A first local job? Clients for a consulting activity? Partners for a social or mining project? Visibility for an NGO?
The answer determines which circles to prioritize: incubators and hubs if you work with startups, chambers of commerce and federations if you target SMEs, professional associations if you support public actors, expat communities if you first seek to understand the country’s codes.
In a recruitment process, a foreign candidate who demonstrates a willingness to integrate sustainably (by learning the local language, participating in community life, or committing to stay several years) may have an advantage over a technically superior profile perceived as temporary. Adaptation to the local context is a key factor in valuation.
Maintaining Relationships: Follow-ups, Thank-You Notes, Reciprocity
In Burundi as elsewhere, a network must be cultivated. A few simple but regular habits make the difference: send a thank-you message after a meeting, share an article or opportunity that might interest a contact, propose a new meeting on the occasion of a sectoral event, congratulate a partner on an appointment or project success.
To transform a professional contact into a relationship of trust, it is advisable to adopt certain symbolic gestures. This includes offering a small corporate gift (avoiding overly expensive presents to avoid awkwardness), writing a handwritten thank-you note, and honoring invitations to personal events such as a wedding, family celebration, or community gathering.
Don’t Neglect Local Alliances
Finally, every expatriate benefits from identifying a few local “navigators”: people who know the different worlds well (administration, private sector, civil society, international donors) and can facilitate introductions, help decode attitudes, and warn of pitfalls to avoid. This could be a colleague, a project partner, a member of a network like RNEB, or an entrepreneur met at BujaHub.
The table below illustrates, as an indication, a few types of profiles to identify and nurture in a network in Burundi:
| Local “Pivot” Profile | Potential Contribution for an Expatriate |
|---|---|
| Executive from a Chamber of Commerce | Understanding of the SME fabric, access to business events |
| Head of an NGO or UN agency | Reading of political issues, access to donors |
| Long-established entrepreneur | Pragmatic view of the market, supplier introductions |
| Recognized academic or consultant | Access to reliable data, links with the administration |
| Community or religious leader | Social legitimacy, deep understanding of local dynamics |
Weaving these bonds requires patience, humility, and genuine availability, far from the image of an expatriate in a hurry to “do their networking” like checking a box. But in Burundi more than elsewhere, it is this path of patient relationship-building that opens the most interesting—and most lasting—doors.
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
