Burundian authorities are stepping up efforts to develop ICT and accelerate digital transformation. This momentum now extends to all sectors, including land administration, which is firmly committed to digitizing its services.

Burundian company Mediabox announced on Tuesday, June 17, the launch of an Electronic Document and Records Management System (EDRMS) for the Directorate of Land Titles and National Cadastre (DTFCN). Funded by the World Bank, this digital system aims to enhance the internal management of land operations. It will facilitate document access, secure archiving, action traceability, and administrative transparency.

Unlike a public portal, the EDRMS is an exclusive tool for land administration agents. It allows for swift and structured file consultation while ensuring full traceability of all operations carried out by relevant services. The primary goal is to streamline internal processes, shorten processing times, and secure information related to land ownership.

The Mediabox-developed solution integrates with two other DTFCN platforms: the Building Permit System (BPS), which manages building permit applications and the issuance of initial land titles, and the Property Management System (PMS), which handles updates to existing titles, including transfers, corrections, and mortgages. Together, these tools create a comprehensive digital ecosystem, ensuring continuity and reliability throughout land operations, from initial request to post-issuance management.

This initiative addresses persistent challenges in Burundi’s land sector, such as bureaucratic delays, a lack of centralized archives, legal insecurity of land titles, and slow document issuance. The project aims to resolve these issues by equipping public officials with tools for more efficient and transparent work.

The initiative is part of the Digital Foundations Project (PAFEN), a World Bank-funded program with a $92 million allocation. PAFEN seeks to expand broadband access in rural areas, build digital skills, and promote the digitization of public services. Burundi ranked 183rd out of 193 countries in the United Nations’ 2024 E-Government Development Index (EGDI), underscoring the significant challenges ahead.

The project's success will hinge on strengthening internal digital infrastructure, training staff on new technological tools, fostering a digital culture within the administration, and ensuring the security of sensitive land-related data. Ongoing system maintenance and scalability will also be crucial to meet the growing demands of land administration in the long term.

By Samira Njoya,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji