UNHCR has helped hundreds of thousands of Burundian refugees return home since 2002. The refugee agency has organized transport and a return package of household and shelter items, while the World Food Programme provided food rations for three months.

In June 2006, UNHCR and the governments of Tanzania and Burundi began to actively promote the return of Burundian refugees still living in Tanzanian camps. The assistance package remained the same, but the return rate slowed.

Surveys indicated that the refugees were concerned about the poor economic situation and food insecurity in Burundi. The Tanzanian government, meanwhile, warned that it wanted the Burundians out by the end of 2007.

To encourage the remaining 150,000 Burundians in camps to go back home, UNHCR decided to add a cash incentive to the return package of food and non-food items. A cash grant of US$50 per person was introduced on 10 July 2007 to help ease the integration of the returnees.

The concept paper and first assessment attest to the success of the operation so far.