BUJUMBURA June 20th (ABP) – The National Assembly unanimously adopted the bill on the ratification by the Republic of Burundi of the US$400 million assistance agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of Burundi to facilitate a partnership aimed at a transformation favoring the sustainable development of Burundi.
In his explanatory memorandum, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, Mr. Albert Shingiro indicated that this partnership aims at the transformation that promotes the development of human capital for the implementation of the strengthening of health services and systems. in targeted areas (the fight against chronic malnutrition), the improvement of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable groups and support for education systems.
To the question of knowing the area of intervention where these objectives could be developed, Minister Shingiro said that the area of intervention will be determined by the beneficiary sector ministries and proposed to the hierarchical authority for validation. He also added that the government will have to say within the framework of respect for the principle of national and community ownership.
The First Vice-President of the National Assembly Ms. Sabine Ntakarutimana asked the Minister in charge of Development Cooperation for Burundi’s share in this cooperation in the face of this donation, also deploring that the time limit for the realization of the projects is short. He replied that Burundi will contribute in the implementation of the projects and that concerning the deadline, the ministry should seek projects which are better for a good use of this donation in a fixed period.