This study has the dual objective of contributing to the analysis of the practice of power in Burundi and the practice of development aid actors. It offers an insider's perspective: one of the authors was a founding member of the forum and a representative of Belgian cooperation, and the other was an outside observer throughout its operation. They had access to and were able to consult all the internal documents and sources: meetings of the sectoral group and the thematic subgroups, minutes of meetings, interviews with members of the forum and non-member justice actors. After recalling the evolutions in development aid in which the forum is embedded, the study saw: 

 1. How it was set up and functioned 

2. As well as the changes that were observed during the period under study. 

3. It then highlights the particularities and conditions of success of this experiment. 

4. Finally, the limitations and major blockages were seen, illustrating the evolution of the socio-political context and practices in Burundi.

The study found that the justice and rule of law sector group (GSJED) created a structured, flexible and transparent space for collaboration which made it possible to initiate structural work on justice reform. Unfortunately, the resurgence of human rights violations and tensions between the government and the international community from 2013 onwards has put a stop to constructive dialogue and concerted initiatives.