Isabelle Berro-Amadei, Monaco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, led a Monegasque delegation to Burundi from Tuesday, October 15 until Sunday, October 20. The visit aimed to meet with local partners and beneficiaries of projects supported by Monaco’s international cooperation efforts and to engage with Burundian authorities. The visit followed the signing of a Cooperation Framework Agreement between Monaco and Burundi earlier this month.
This visit highlighted Monaco’s ongoing contributions to Burundi and strengthened bilateral relations. On Saturday, October 5, during the Francophonie Summit in Villers-Cotterêts, France, Berro-Amadei signed the Cooperation Framework Agreement with her Burundian counterpart, Albert Shingiro. The agreement is designed to deepen the historic partnership between the two nations and formalize Monaco’s commitment to supporting Burundi’s national development priorities.
As part of the visit, the partnership between Monaco and the World Food Programme (WFP) was renewed, focusing on Burundi’s National School Feeding Programme. This initiative will provide hot, nutritious meals to 82,000 children across 100 schools in three provinces, using locally sourced ingredients. The project is part of a pilot program aimed at developing exemplary school canteens.
The delegation also toured various projects supported by the Monegasque government, spanning the fields of health, food security, education and child protection, and access to decent work. They met with local civil society groups, including FVS – Amie des Enfants, international NGOs such as Comunità di Sant’Egidio and FXB International, and UN agencies like the World Food Programme and UN Women.
Monaco’s civil society is also active in Burundi, with projects from organisations such as Fight Aids, Peace and Sport, and the World Association of Children’s Friends (AMADE). The delegation attended the 10th anniversary celebration of the “Amie des Enfants” school in Matana, an inclusive education initiative supporting orphans and vulnerable children, funded by Monaco’s cooperation.
Since 2008, Burundi has been one of 11 countries supported by Monaco’s international cooperation, focusing on key areas such as school feeding, education for repatriated children, and community health. Monaco also has a long-standing presence in Burundi, with Spès Nihangaza serving as Honorary Consul in Bujumbura since 2012. Recently, Joseph Nsabiyumva was appointed as Country Coordinator for Monaco’s cooperation programs in Burundi.