US Visa Bonds: The U.S. has made its refundable visa bond programme permanent, with consular officers able to require B1 business and B2 tourism applicants from 50 countries (including Burundi) to post up to $20,000 before visas are issued—money is refunded if rules are followed, but the cash burden is expected to hit legitimate travellers hard. EAC Agriculture Funding Gap: East Africa’s agricultural transformation faces a financing and execution crunch, with experts warning that pledges under the Kampala CAADP agenda aren’t yet translating into funded action. AfDB Natural Capital Grant: The African Development Fund approved a $4.23m grant for a natural-capital integration project across 13 countries including Burundi, aiming to improve policy, statistics and decision-making from 2026–2029. Digital Economy Push: Africa’s “meaningful connectivity” agenda is gaining momentum, with calls to boost affordability, digital skills and locally relevant services as internet use still lags far behind network coverage. Cashew Value Chain Training: The African Cashew Alliance trained 81 cashew actors in Mombasa to raise production, processing and value addition—supporting jobs and rural incomes across Burundi and other cashew-growing countries. Refugee Livelihoods in South Africa: A new look at Burundian refugees in Durban highlights how integration happens beyond camps, shaped by fragile local economies and the struggle to build hope and belonging.