Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
As part of the implementation of the bilateral cooperation programme between Burundi and Belgium, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation jointly organized a field visit to projects implemented in five key sectors, namely public health, the promotion of sustainable food systems and biodiversity conservation, the socio-economic integration of young people into a green economy, quality education and participatory governance from March 31 to April 1, 2026, in the Province of Butanyerera in the Communes of Ngozi and Kirundo, together with the Belgian International Cooperation Agency.
In the health sector, Saint Joseph Hospital of Gasura, which the mission visited, has received operating theatre equipment, a server and a machine for the digitization and secure storage of patient data, as well as a billing module, with the aim of improving access to quality healthcare, particularly for women and children.
The main objective of the Sustainable Food Systems (SysAD) project is to transform agri-food systems in order to ensure food and nutritional security for the most vulnerable households in Burundi. The development of the 172.5 hectare of Muhembuzi marshland for agricultural and water management has enabled the beneficiaries to increase the area of irrigable farmland and improve productivity. Following two growing seasons on the marshland, project beneficiaries were able to increase rice production by using irrigation techniques during the dry season and water drainage during the rainy season. Rice production rose from 2.5 tons per hectare to 4.5 tons per hectare. By developing competitive and inclusive value chains in banana cultivation, young people and women from the Kididiri hills have been able to process bananas into high-quality banana wine, enabling them to increase production, gain easy access to markets and meet their needs.
Through training and the socio-economic integration of young people, the project supports entrepreneurs and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises via incubation and acceleration programmes, with the aim of strengthening a structured entrepreneurial ecosystem and an environment conducive to business creation. In the Ngozi district on Rukeco Hill, Enabel plans to provide technical support to the company «Mpamata » in accelerating the processing of high-quality milk and plans to help the «Tugwizumimbu /Imburatwunguke» Cooperative, comprising women and young people from Rusuguti Hill, to increase their production through technical support, capacity building, and training in product marketing and hygiene.
At the Sainte Famille Secondary School in Kanyinya, Kirundo District, Enabel has carried out several activities, including the refurbishment of latrines, the installation of drinking water tanks, a laboratory and a digital library, with a view to promoting better access to quality education in Burundi, new teaching methods and a stimulating learning environment for all.
The « Governance and Citizen Participation» project supports two key reforms in Burundi, namely territorial reform and the implementation of programme-based budgeting. While receiving the mission, the Kirundo Commune administration stated that the project supports governance by strengthening the capacity of the commune’s staff in strategic planning and human resources management, and by providing solar power and office equipment, which has led to an improvement in the quality of services provided to the population