Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
On Tuesday October 17, 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation His Excellency Ambassador Albert Shingiro opened the high-level validation workshop of the Belgian-Burundian cooperation program 2024-2028, at the Eden Garden Resort hotel in Bujumbura. That workshop was organized by the Enabel Development Agency.
In his opening speech, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Burundi, His Excellency Michael WIMMER indicated that that workshop marks an important step in a journey that began several months ago. He stressed that that is the first bilateral cooperation program with Burundi since 2010 and that it is a sign of the positive dynamic of bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Belgium and Burundi, after difficult years.
He indicated that they have always stood on the side of the Burundian people, and that that purpose is more than ever the marker of their new program, while relations are now peaceful. He informed that for the next five years, the budget for Belgian cooperation in Burundi will amount to around 150 million Euros, half of which will be used for the implementation, by Enabel, of the future cooperation program. He also informed that that program is obviously inspired by the priorities of the Government and more specifically the National Development Plan of Burundi (2018-2027) but also in the 2040-2060 vision of the President of the Republic His Excellency Evariste Ndayishimiye who a general objective to contribute to the development of a Burundian society that is inclusive and resilient to climate threats based on three principles, sustainability, appropriation and citizens’ rights as priorities.
His Excellency Michael WIMMER ended his remarks by saying that the objective of the workshop is to discuss the future program which is the result of that consultation work, so that it can be launched on January 1, 2024, after the signing of a specific agreement between Burundi and Belgium. He indicated that it is a fairly unique methodology but which is essential for Belgium. He also informed that they would not wish to be a donor who works outside of Government action, rather they have the ambition to be a partner in the development of the Country. That approach “hand in hand” “gufatana mu mugongo” is a central element of the Belgian cooperation action in Burundi.
His Excellency Ambassador Albert Shingiro, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, in his speech, congratulated His Excellency Ambassador of Belgium to Burundi who, only two months after his arrival at the post, is already leading an activity of such importance on a bilateral level. He encouraged him by welcoming him once again to Burundi and promising him all the necessary facilities for success in his noble mission.
His Excellency Ambassador Albert Shingiro informed the participants that Belgium and Burundi have officially established, over the years, a fruitful, constructive and enriching partnership. He said that the bonds of friendship and mutual esteem gradually established constituted a major asset for the development of the solid, multifaceted and multidimensional cooperative relations. He added that, despite some accidental challenges, that cooperation has been a great example of success in terms of efficiency and longevity. That privileged relationship led to a very appreciable partnership based on the concerted communication of the sectors of concentration of support, mainly agricultural, health and educational, before experiencing a period of turbulence and hesitation between 2015 until the lifting of the sanctions unfairly imposed on Burundi. He welcomes the stage of relaunch, warming and improvement of direct cooperation between Burundi and the Kingdom of Belgium.
His Excellency Ambassador Albert Shingiro appreciated the assessment presented by His Excellency Michael WIMMER, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium on the new government cooperation program for the period 2024-2028 as part of the contribution to the development of an inclusive and resilient Burundian society to climatic and socio-economic threats. He appreciated that that program reflects a perfect collaboration between the two parties in terms of technical services. He indicated that that approach to the bilateral programs as well as the respect for the principle of alignment with the national development strategies deserve an ample encouragement.
Albert Shingiro stressed that a budget of 75 million Euros is intended for the implementation of the projects in key sectors for Burundi. He urged the participants to review the document due to attention before its validation in order to have a good start and a good finish. He further asked the high-level participants to ensure that the implementation and monitoring mechanisms proposed, namely the Joint Joint Consultation Committee, the Steering Committee and the Territorial Technical Committees, are clear and easily operational. He also asked them to ensure that the causes of the low rates of disbursement and execution of the interventions noted during the evaluation of the 2010-2013 indicative cooperation program do not recur in order to chart a sure path to recovery success of our bilateral cooperation which will encourage our Belgian partner to provide additional funding for the implementation of programs in other territorial areas of our country.
His Excellency Ambassador Albert Shingiro, based on the principle of mutual responsibility in matters of cooperation, said that the Government of Burundi is committed, for its part, to creating the favorable conditions to achieve that progress and development, such as the Vision Burundi emerging country in 2040 and Burundi developed country in 2060 is encouraging. He informed that to achieve that, the Government of Burundi agreed in deepening and solidifying the foundations of good governance without which no progress is possible.
He ended his speech by reminding the main principles which must play the role of compass in the implementation of that new program and the others which will follow the site telegraphically. He said that those are the principle of the national ownership, the principle of alignment, harmonization, and flexibility, the principle of Results-Based Management and finally the principle of mutual accountability.