Project summary
Animal Relief is a newly established nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the welfare of farmed animals and fish in Burundi. As one of the first and possibly the only organization in the country focused specifically on farmed animal welfare advocacy, Animal Relief seeks support to establish the operational foundation necessary to launch impactful cage-free egg and fish welfare campaigns.

The proposed project will strengthen the organization's institutional capacity through the development of governance structures, financial and operational systems, legal compliance mechanisms, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and the recruitment of key personnel. These investments will position Animal Relief to become a credible and effective advocate for millions of farmed animals and fish affected by intensive farming systems.

With support of USD 15,000, Animal Relief will establish the systems, staff, and strategic capacity required to implement evidence-based animal welfare campaigns and engage policymakers, producers, retailers, and the public in advancing higher welfare standards across Burundi.

Organizational Background

Animal Relief is a nonprofit organization committed to advancing the welfare of farmed animals and fish through advocacy, education, research, and policy engagement. Burundi's farmed animals and aquaculture sectors continue to grow in response to increasing demand for animal-source foods. However, animal welfare considerations remain largely absent from public discourse, industry practices, and policy frameworks. Farmed animals, including laying hens and fish, are exposed to conditions that can compromise their welfare and productivity.

Animal Relief was founded to address this critical gap by promoting practical, science-based solutions that improve animal welfare while supporting sustainable agricultural development.

The organization aims to become a leading voice for farmed animal welfare in Burundi and contribute to the growing movement for animal welfare across Africa.

Problem Statement

Despite the significant number of farmed animals raised in Burundi, there is currently limited advocacy focused on their welfare.

Key challenges include:

• Lack of awareness regarding animal welfare among producers, consumers, and policymakers.

• Absence of dedicated farmed animal welfare organizations.

• Limited technical knowledge of cage-free production systems.

• Minimal attention to fish welfare in aquaculture and capture fisheries.

• Weak institutional capacity among emerging animal welfare actors.

Without dedicated interventions, millions of animals may continue to experience preventable suffering.

To effectively address these challenges, Animal Relief must first establish strong organizational systems and recruit qualified personnel capable of designing and implementing impactful welfare campaigns.

Project Objectives

Objective 1: Establish robust organizational, governance, and operational systems within the first 12 months.

Objective 2: Recruit and onboard key staff required to manage and implement animal welfare programs.

Objective 3: Develop strategic plans, stakeholder mapping, and campaign frameworks for cage-free and fish welfare initiatives.

Objective 4: Build the organization's visibility, credibility, and partnerships with government agencies, producers, academic institutions, and civil society organizations.

What are this project's goals? How will you achieve them?

The goal of this project is to establish Animal Relief Organization as a fully operational and effective farmed animal welfare organization capable of launching cage-free egg and fish welfare campaigns in Burundi.

To achieve this, Animal Relief will:

• Develop strong governance, financial, administrative, and monitoring systems.

• Recruit and train a qualified team of animal welfare professionals.

• Conduct baseline research on egg production systems and fish welfare conditions.

• Map key stakeholders, including producers, retailers, government agencies, universities, and civil society organizations.

• Develop evidence-based campaign strategies, educational materials, and advocacy frameworks.

• Build partnerships that will support future policy engagement and corporate outreach.

By the end of the project, Animal Relief will have the institutional capacity, technical expertise, and stakeholder relationships necessary to implement impactful farmed animal welfare programs.

How will this funding be used?

The funding will support the establishment of Animal Relief's foundational operational capacity. Resources will be used to recruit key personnel, develop governance and financial systems, conduct baseline research, engage stakeholders, produce advocacy materials, and strengthen organizational visibility.

This investment will position Animal Relief Organization as Burundi's first dedicated farmed animal welfare organization and create the foundation for future campaigns aimed at improving the welfare of laying hens and fish across the country.

The majority of funding will support recruitment of key staff and development of the systems required to build a sustainable and effective organization. To establish a strong foundation for future animal welfare campaigns while operating within a modest start-up budget, Animal Relief will recruit three full-time staff members and engage two part-time consultants.

Full-Time Staff

1. Campaign Director

   • Provide overall leadership and strategic direction.

   • Oversee organizational development, fundraising, partnerships, and program implementation.

   • Coordinate stakeholder engagement and campaign planning.

2. Campaign & Communications Manager

   • Lead public awareness and advocacy initiatives.

   • Develop communication materials, media content, and outreach campaigns.

   • Manage organizational visibility and stakeholder communications.

3. Research & Policy Officer

   • Conduct baseline assessments and stakeholder mapping.

   • Produce research reports and policy briefs.

   • Support evidence-based advocacy and campaign development.

Part-Time Consultants

1. Corporate Engagement Consultant (Part-Time)

   • Support engagement with egg producers, retailers, and food companies.

   • Identify opportunities for cage-free commitments and industry partnerships.

2. Fish Welfare Technical Consultant (Part-Time)

   • Provide technical expertise on fish welfare and aquaculture systems.

   • Support fish welfare assessments, educational materials, and stakeholder engagement.

Outputs

• Three full-time staff recruited and trained.

• Two specialized consultants engaged.

• Staff performance management system established.

• Organizational structure operational and capable of supporting future growth.
  

Who is on your team? What's your track record on similar projects?

Animal Relief is a newly established organization; it was created in response to the significant gap in farmed animal welfare advocacy within the country.

The organization is currently building its institutional capacity and seeks to recruit the following key positions:

Full-Time Staff

1.      Campaign Director

2.      Campaign & Communications Manager

3.      Research & Policy Officer

Part-Time Consultants

1.      Corporate Engagement Consultant (Part-Time)

2.      Fish Welfare Technical Consultant (Part-Time)

The team is committed to applying evidence-based approaches, learning from successful animal welfare organizations across Africa and globally, and building partnerships with experts, researchers, and policymakers.

This project represents a foundational investment that will enable the organization to develop the expertise and systems necessary to deliver high-impact welfare campaigns.

What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails?

Potential risks include:

• Delays in recruiting qualified personnel.

• Limited stakeholder engagement due to low awareness of animal welfare issues.

• Challenges securing continuous funding.

• Regulatory or administrative delays affecting organizational operations.

If the project fails, Animal Relief may be unable to establish the operational systems and team required to launch cage-free and fish welfare campaigns. As a result, opportunities to improve welfare standards for millions of farmed animals and fish in Burundi could be delayed, and the country may continue to lack a dedicated organization focused on farmed animal welfare advocacy.

To reduce these risks, the organization will prioritize strong governance, strategic partnerships, careful financial management, and diversified fundraising efforts.

How much money have you raised in the last 12 months, and from where?

Animal Relief is a newly established organization and has not yet secured significant external funding. The organization is currently seeking its first major institutional investment to establish operational systems, recruit staff, and launch its initial farmed animal welfare programs.

Any in-kind contributions, volunteer support, or seed funding received to date can be listed here if applicable.