Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
As part of efforts to strengthen South-South cooperation, Burundi is hosting an official delegation from the Republic of Haiti from 4 to 10 October 2026 under the Resilient Agriculture for Food Security Project (RAFSP).
The exchange mission aims to enable the Haitian delegation to learn from Burundi’s experience in implementing the National Endogenous School Feeding Programme (NESFP), which is recognised for its local sourcing model, promotion of national agricultural production and decentralised management of school canteens. During their stay, the participants will undertake field visits in the provinces of Bujumbura, Buhumuza and Butanyerera, particularly in the communes of Mpanda, Butihinda and Ngozi, to gain an understanding of the mechanisms for multisectoral coordination, as well as the programme’s impact on food security and children’s school attendance.
At the opening of the activities, Ambassador Else Nizigama Ntamagiro, Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation, representing the Minister, welcomed the Haitian delegation. She highlighted the excellent relations of friendship and cooperation between Burundi and Haiti, while emphasising the importance of sharing experiences in the areas of food security and endogenous school feeding.
In her remarks, she presented the efforts of the Government of Burundi, carried out in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), to gradually extend school feeding programmes across the country by 2032, with particular attention to areas most affected by food insecurity and the effects of drought. She expressed her conviction that the good practices developed in Burundi could contribute to strengthening similar initiatives in Haiti.
Speaking on behalf of the Haitian delegation, Mr. Gérard Neuvième, Coordinator of the Resilient Agriculture for Food Security Project, welcomed the reception extended to his delegation and thanked the Burundian authorities for their support. Quoting the proverb, “He who asks for directions does not get lost,” he noted that the mission represents a valuable opportunity for learning and sharing experiences.
He stressed that school feeding based on locally produced food is not only a tool for combating hunger and malnutrition, but also a driver of economic development, supporting agricultural production, creating market opportunities and improving farmers’ incomes. He also highlighted the progress made in Haiti, including the establishment of a local procurement facilitation unit and the revision of the national school feeding policy, while acknowledging the continued challenges related to sustainable financing of the sector.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promoting South-South cooperation through the sharing of knowledge, experiences and solutions adapted to their respective realities. They expressed their hope that this collaboration would contribute sustainably to improving food security and the well-being of the population, particularly school children.
The activities included presentations and panel discussions led by sectoral ministries from Burundi and Haiti, focusing on their respective contributions to the implementation of food security and resilient school feeding programmes.