Burundi · Environmental and social consulting
Assessing risks.
Informing decisions.
Know the ground. Reduce the risk. Move the project.
Joy Group tells energy investors whether their E&S action plan will actually work in Burundi: legally, administratively, and with communities.
A Burundian environmental and social safeguards consultancy: impact assessments, audits and due diligence, resettlement planning, compliance and capacity building.
Who we are
A local partner working to lender standards.
Joy Group combines in-depth knowledge of the Burundian context — institutions, communities, languages, consultation protocols — with a command of the requirements of international financial institutions.
The firm works independently or as a sub-consultant to international consultancies, across the entire project cycle: screening, impact assessment, management and resettlement plans, followed by audit and compliance monitoring.
About the firm →Our services
Four service lines,
a scope tailored to each project.
Instruments, investigations and deliverables are defined according to risks, project phase, national requirements and the financier’s framework.
Environmental and social assessments and instruments
Identify risks and impacts, prepare assessments and turn measures into monitored commitments.
- Screening and environmental and social impact assessments (ESIA)
- ESMF, ESMP, C-ESMP, ESCP, SEP and LMP
Environmental and social audit and due diligence
Examine practices, evidence and gaps against a defined framework, ahead of financing or acquisition.
- Document review and site visits
- Gap matrix, E&S action plan (ESAP), red flags
Resettlement, consultation and Indigenous Peoples
Engage affected persons and communities through protocols suited to the Burundian context.
- Resettlement action plans (RAP)
- Stakeholder engagement; Indigenous Peoples screening (Batwa)
Capacity building and training
Hands-on courses for project teams and environmental practitioners.
- ESIA and RAP: indicative 8-week courses
- ESMP and monitoring: 6 weeks
Risks
The risks we address.
Project blocked by an authority
What we do: We identify the authorities and permits involved, and compare Burundian law with the PS/ESS.
What you receive: A map of authorities and permits, and a gap table between Burundian law and the PS/ESS.
The decision it enables: Knowing which authority to approach first and which project-specific commitments to plan.
Disbursement condition not met
What we do: We list each E&S condition with its evidence, the authority concerned and the person responsible.
What you receive: A register of E&S conditions (evidence, authority, person responsible).
The decision it enables: A realistic disbursement schedule; the conditions to renegotiate before signing.
Community conflict
What we do: Consultation in Kirundi with the communes, and Batwa screening.
What you receive: A social risk note.
The decision it enables: Proceed as planned or strengthen the stakeholder engagement plan.
Report rejected by the lender
What we do: Requirement-by-requirement review of the report before submission.
What you receive: A gap register.
The decision it enables: Submit as is or correct first.
Financing delayed
What we do: E&S readiness review before the lender’s due diligence.
What you receive: An E&S readiness note.
The decision it enables: Split the corrections between pre-closing and post-closing.
Sectors
Who we work for.
Hover or tap a sector to see typical services.
References
Assignments delivered in energy:
hydropower, solar, electricity access.
For a developer and international consultancies, in Burundi, under IFC and World Bank standards and national regulations.
Impact, environmental and social due diligence (IESDD) of Weza Power in Burundi
For RSK Environment (Kenya) and Impact Fund Denmark — IFC PS 1 and PS 3, World Bank ESS.
Support to the supplementary ESIAs of the Dama and Sigu hydropower plants
Dama (9.6 MW, Rumonge) and Sigu (12.4 MW, Bururi) — for SRK Consulting (South Africa) and Tembo Power Holdings, IFC standards.
ESIA for the 500 MW Bunyuro solar photovoltaic plant — preliminary phase
Gisuru and Ruyigi communes, Ruyigi province (footprint ≈ 10 km²) — for EnSmart International.
“Their contribution has been highly professional, demonstrating strong logistical coordination, cultural understanding, and technical support.”SRK Consulting (South Africa) — reference letter dated 5 September 2025
Our method
A written framework. Verifiable delivery.
Scoping
Review of the terms of reference, applicable framework, deliverables, deadlines and counterparts.
Data collection
Document review, site visits, interviews, surveys and consultations.
Analysis
Assessment of impacts and gaps, risk prioritization, measures.
Review
Technical review, checking of sources, figures and consistency.
Delivery
Submission, response to comments and final version.
Frameworks
The right framework for each assignment.
Burundian regulations
Environmental Code, as amended by Law No. 1/09 of 25 May 2021, and the impact assessment procedure overseen by the Burundian Office for Environmental Protection (OBPE).
Environmental and Social Framework
Environmental and Social Standards (ESS 1 to 10) and associated instruments: ESCP, SEP, LMP, RAP, ESMF.
Performance Standards
PS 1 to 8, applied in our assignments for private developers and impact investors: PS 1 and 3 (assessment, resources), PS 7 (Indigenous Peoples).
Integrated Safeguards System
2023 edition of the African Development Bank’s system, applied according to the rules governing each project.
Naming these institutions describes the frameworks we work with and implies no affiliation or endorsement on their part. Instruments, their names and their content are determined by project risks, the terms of reference and the financier’s framework.
Clients
Assignments delivered for:
RSK Environment (Kenya) Ltd
Collaboration: E&S due diligence of Weza Power (2026)
SRK Consulting (South Africa)
Collaboration: Support to the Dama and Sigu hydropower ESIAs (2024–2025)
EnSmart
Collaboration: Bunyuro solar plant ESIA (2023–2024)
News & insights
Analysis and regulatory insights.
Our latest articles on environmental and social safeguards (in French).
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First conversation
Your project starts with a well-defined need.
Send us your terms of reference, available documents, sites and deadline. We will respond with a technical and financial proposal setting out scope, team, schedule and deliverables.
Jonas NDUWIMANA
Managing Director
info@joygroup.biBld. Patrice Lumumba, Alpha Kilo Building, 2nd floor, 11 C2, Bujumbura, Burundi