icon About Us

Niko Seed is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustainable socioeconomic development in Burundi.

It works to create jobs,empower young people and women, and develop sustainable agricultural value chains.

icon Business Model

NIKO SEED is based on an integrated value chain consisting of three interdependent links:

NIKO SEED supports youth and women’s groups in the agribusiness sector by promoting sustainable agricultural techniques and increasing production, so that agriculture can become a tangible source of income. NIKO SEED encourages them to apply these techniques in their households and to create jobs using available resources. A post-harvest loss management system complements this support.

NIKO SEED supports the modern processing facility to add value to agricultural products from COPAD. This creates jobs for young people and women and offers training and internships to those who wish to specialize in agri-food processing.

NIKO SEED supports young people and women in income-generating activities. The center offers training in entrepreneurship, small-scale crafts (sewing, embroidery), and digital and management skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, accounting, business management). Agricultural and processed products are also sold through a cooperative store.

Together, these three components form a comprehensive ecosystem that combines production, processing, and training to maximize NIKO SEED’s socioeconomic impact on the community.

icon The Promoter – Who Is She?

Ms. Claudette NDUWAYEZU

is a social entrepreneur committed to transforming rural communities in Burundi, with a particular focus on empowering women and young people.

From a very young age, she grew up with a deeply held belief: rural life was synonymous with poverty. Like many others, she associated agriculture with precarious living conditions and a lack of opportunities.

However, this perception began to change when she had the opportunity to travel, particularly to Canada. As she discovered other realities, she realized that elsewhere, rural life could be synonymous with wealth, innovation, and prosperity.
This realization marked a turning point in her journey.

Determined to change this reality in her own country, she chose to reinvent agriculture as a driver of opportunity, dignity, and inclusive growth.

Driven by this vision, she founded an initiative aimed at developing agricultural value chains—particularly in the fruit and grain sectors—and fostering local entrepreneurship, while creating jobs and strengthening the resilience of communities.

Early in her career, Claudette began her work by focusing primarily on supporting single mothers, recognizing the urgent need to provide them with economic opportunities.
However, her hands-on experience in the field helped her realize that these challenges were shared by a much broader audience.

She then broadened her approach to include all girls and young people in need of economic opportunities, access to training, and entrepreneurial support. Today, her initiative is aimed at a generation determined to bounce back, take the initiative, and shape their own future.

Her career has been enriched by her travels and her experience living in Canada, which have shaped a comprehensive, structured, and ambitious vision of development.
Today, she combines this international perspective with a deep understanding of local realities.

Through her work, she develops innovative solutions that bridge the gap between on-the-ground realities and international standards while harnessing the potential of local communities.

Its mission is clear: to create inclusive economic models that improve incomes, restore dignity, and rekindle hope.

Her vision is to build an ecosystem in which women and young people become key players in economic development, capable of providing for their families, creating jobs, and bringing about sustainable change in their communities.

icon Responsibilities of the Organization

Lobbying and Advocacy

NIKO SEED advocates for its members' interests with public and private institutions and financial partners.

NIKO SEED coordinates and supports its members' joint and individual projects.

NIKO SEED advocates for its members' interests with public and private institutions and financial partners.

NIKO SEED ensures the long-term sustainability of COPAD, NIKO GREEN, and NIKO CENTER by mobilizing the necessary resources and strengthening the value chain.

Our Projects

Our Activities