IRAZ is a research institution common to the three countries of the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo). It was created in 1979, and is headquartered in Gitega in central Burundi. The mission of IRAZ is to contribute to the establishment of food security conditions, through agronomic and zootechnical research. In 2008, it had ten permanent researchers. The purpose of IRAZ is to study and implement community projects in agriculture and zootechnics. To achieve these objectives, IRAZ has been entrusted with the following missions:
- Inventory community agricultural and zootechnical resources, analyze all problems, and build a database of data necessary to achieve its objectives;
- Conduct feasibility and implementation studies of community projects in agriculture and zootechnics;
- Provide Member States with the results of studies and surveys in the various areas of activity assigned to IRAZ;
- Collaborate with member states in the development of its research programs, in the rational use of their agricultural and zootechnical resources, so as to make their economies more and more complementary;
- Establish and strengthen relations with national and international organizations dealing with agricultural and zootechnical issues, by intensifying the exchange of information and plant and animal material in the field of research.
Prior to the 1993 crisis in Burundi, IRAZ was conducting major research projects. Only with FAO, there were no less than sixteen major research projects between 1985 and 1992. IRAZ then declined completely during the period of civil wars that spared none of the three member countries. Initiatives are currently underway in these three countries to revive these activities.