Summary:
A delegation from Monaco, led by Isabelle BERRO AMADEI, visited Burundi to meet local partners and beneficiaries of projects supported by the Monaco Cooperation, and to hold discussions with Burundian authorities. The visit aimed to highlight Monaco’s cooperation efforts in the country and strengthen ties with Burundian authorities.
Full Story:
From October 15th to 20th, 2024, a Monegasque delegation led by Isabelle BERRO AMADEI, Government Counsellor Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, visited Burundi to meet with local partners and beneficiaries of projects supported by Monaco’s Cooperation and to hold discussions with Burundian authorities. A Cooperation Framework Agreement had been signed beforehand between the two states.
This visit highlighted the actions of Monaco’s Cooperation in the country and strengthened ties with Burundian authorities. Before the trip, during the XIX Francophonie Summit in Villers Cotterêts, France, Isabelle BERRO AMADEI had signed a Cooperation Framework Agreement with her Burundian counterpart. The goal of this agreement is to deepen friendly relations and cooperation with Burundi, a historical partner country of Monaco’s Cooperation. The Principality’s Government formalized its commitment to supporting Burundi’s national development priorities.
This ministerial-level visit also facilitated the renewal of the partnership between Monaco and the World Food Programme (WFP), which implements the National School Feeding Program in Burundi. As a result, 82,000 children from 100 schools in three provinces will benefit from hot and nutritious meals made from local products as part of an excellent school feeding pilot project.
The Monegasque delegation also visited partners and beneficiaries throughout the country. These visits provided a comprehensive overview of the projects supported by the Principality’s Government in Burundi in the four areas of Monaco’s Cooperation: health, food security, education and child protection, and access to decent work. Meetings were held with Burundian civil society (FVS Amie des Enfants), international NGOs (Comunità di Sant’Egidio, Bibliothèques Sans Frontières, WeWorld GVC, FXB International), as well as UN agencies (World Food Programme, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UN Women).
Finally, as the Monegasque civil society is also involved in Burundi, the delegation visited projects supported by Monaco’s International Solidarity Organizations, such as Fight Aids, Peace and Sport, and the World Association of Friends of Children. The World Association of Friends of Children was present at the 10-year celebration of the “Amie des Enfants” School in Matana, an inclusive education project supported by Monaco’s Cooperation for orphans and vulnerable children.
Burundi, facing multiple vulnerabilities such as climate change, difficult socioeconomic conditions, food insecurity, and poverty, has been one of Monaco’s 11 partner countries since 2008. The Principality’s Government supports many national priorities through its programming, including school feeding programs, education for repatriated children, and community health. Monaco has had an Honorary Consul in Bujumbura since 2012, Ms. Spès NIHANGAZA, and Monaco’s Cooperation recently hired a Country Coordinator in Burundi, Mr. Joseph NSABIYUMVA.
The Monegasque delegation included Isabelle BERRO-AMADEÏ, Government Counsellor Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; Spès NIHANGAZA, Honorary Consul of Monaco in Burundi; Bénédicte SCHUTZ, Monaco’s Special Representative for International Cooperation; Julien SIRI, Burundi Program Manager at the International Cooperation Directorate (DCI); and Joseph NSABIYUMVA, Country Coordinator in Burundi for the DCI.
Source:
Gouvernement Monaco
