BUJUMBURA March 26th (ABP) – Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca held, on Friday March 22, 2024, a pre-meeting with various development partners, both multilateral and bilateral. A meeting to which representatives of diplomatic and consular bodies, international and regional organizations accredited in Burundi, and those of Burundi’s international partner organizations were invited.
Members of the government were also present at that high-level meeting.
In his speech, Mr. Ndirakobuca recalled that the present meeting is part of the continuity, explaining that it is not new, such a meeting: “a round table of the government with the Development Partners (PAD)”, had took place in 2021.
Mr. Ndirakobuca indicated that the holding of that meeting demonstrates the government’s commitment to establishing a space for open and frank dialogue in order to maintain a climate of trust with its partners, an approach which began in 2021. In that regard the Prime Minister indicated that a mini round table had been organized to which partners had been invited, in order to agree on the actions to be undertaken to strengthen and expand Burundi’s sustainable development partnership.
Noting that a series of recommendations had been formulated to ensure, among other things, sustainable management of projects and programs, structural and cyclical strengthening and undertake mechanisms to be implemented in order to facilitate dialogue.
Mr. Ndirakobuca informed that that meeting is part of a round table which will be held during the month of May 2024. He wanted to announce that during that round table, the list of partners will be expanded, and multilateral and bilateral partners, as well as those from the public and private sectors, will participate.
The Prime Minister of the Republic informed the partners of Burundi’s ambition, contained in the vision of making Burundi an emerging country in 2040 and developed in 2060. He said he was aware of the numerous challenges that stand on the way. towards that vision, while affirming the government’s determination to face it. He reiterated the government’s availability to pursue the extended exchange framework “to move together towards the sustainable development of Burundi”, in other words towards achieving its vision.
During that meeting, three presentations were made to the partners present. The first concerned the national development cooperation strategy, which turned out to be “a response to the questions asked by development partners in relation to the coordination of their interventions”.
The development partners were then briefed in relation to the content of the revised national development plan (PND) 2018-2027, to align with the country’s vision. Ultimately, the status of implementation of the recommendations of the 1st mini round table, organized in December 2021, was presented, where in all, 25 recommendations were made.
In that regard, the partners who intervened welcomed the efforts undertaken by the government to create a climate of mutual trust with development partners, in the implementation of the recommendations resulting from the mini round table on the national strategy of development cooperation which was held in December 2021.
Most of the recommendations have been implemented, we learned. While suggesting approaches to undertake for greater success in achieving Burundi’s development objectives. The partners said they were committed to continuing to support Burundi towards its development.View of participants