Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness in Burundi’s Coffee Sector: Challenges and Prospects

This study examines the role of entrepreneurship and innovation in revitalising Burundi’s declining coffee sector, which remains a vital pillar of the country’s economy. Despite liberalisation reforms and increased private investment since 2008, coffee production has sharply declined due to structural inefficiencies, ageing plantations, poor infrastructure, and institutional fragility. The research analyses how entrepreneurial initiatives – particularly those led by cooperatives, women, and youth – can foster value addition, enhance coffee quality, and improve market access. It draws on a mixed-methods approach combining a systematic literature review, policy analysis, and over thirty field interviews with stakeholders across the value chain. The findings highlight emerging innovations, such as quality certification, micro-milling enterprises, and digital tools, alongside persistent barriers, including limited access to finance, technical knowledge gaps, and governance challenges. The study concludes that a coherent ecosystem - comprising targeted training, public-private investment, infrastructure upgrades, and regulatory reform – is essential to unlock the sector’s entrepreneurial potential. By integrating entrepreneurship into Burundi’s coffee development strategy, the country can pursue both rural transformation and export competitiveness.