Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
On Wednesday, March11, 2026, a briefing session of the Permanent Secretaries who are members of the Joint Technical Committee on the Framework Cooperation Plan for Sustainable Development between the Government of Burundi and the United Nations System for the period 2023–2027 was held at Kiriri Garden. The session was co-chaired by Mr. Sophonie Nitunga, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation, and Mrs. Violet Kakyomya, UN Resident Coordinator. The briefing aimed at strengthening collaboration with United Nations System partners as well as to monitor and evaluate their multifaceted support for national priorities.
In his remarks, Mr. Nitunga urged his colleagues to pay particular attention to this session, which is primarily addressed to Permanent Secretaries. He emphasized that the Framework Cooperation Plan constitutes a new working tool for the Ministry, built on three fundamental pillars: continuity, coherence and effectiveness. He insisted on the need to maintain the pace of projects initiated since 2023, despite possible changes within teams. Sectoral priorities must remain fully aligned. Mr. Nitunga also noted that United Nations agencies in Burundi are valuable technical partners and that it is essential to consult them according to their areas of responsibility.
Taking the flour, Mrs. Violet Kakyomya thanked all participants for their interest in the partnership between the Government of Burundi and the United Nations System. She congratulated the Permanent Secretaries on their appointments and praised the collaborative efforts already undertaken with UN agencies.
For her, the Cooperation Framework is the most important strategic instrument guiding the United Nations’ action in each country. She noted that in Burundi, this framework, now in its fourth year of implementation, is not merely a United Nations document but a joint framework between the Government of Burundi and the United Nations, aligned with national development priorities and the 2030 Agenda for the Sustainable Development Goals. Mrs. Violet recalled that this framework is based on a simple but ambitious vision: to support Burundi on its path toward inclusive, resilient and sustainable development, leaving no one behind.
She added that the 2023–2027 cooperation framework is structured around several key areas, notably: economic transformation and sustainable food systems; governance, the rule of law and social cohesion; human capital development; access to basic social services; as well as environmental, climate and disaster resilience.
Mrs. Violet concluded that sustainable development can only be achieved through collective, coordinated action founded on mutual trust and accountability. She therefore encouraged participants to ask questions and raise sectoral perspectives to continue improving collective work. Fruitful exchanges took place during the session.
It should be noted that the Cooperation Framework Plan between the Government of Burundi and the United Nations came into force in 2023.