Belgium has granted Burundi 10 million euros (US $12.5 million) for education, road construction and rural water supply, as promised during a donors' conference earlier this year.
The grant is part of the 15 million euros ($18.7 million) Belgium pledged during the donor conference in the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, on 28 February.
The Belgian ambassador, François Cornet D'Elsius, and Burundi's minister of international relations and cooperation, Antoinette Batumubwira, signed the grant agreement on Tuesday in Bujumbura.
Batumubwira said Belgium's aid was "a sign of solidarity with the country".
Cornet D'Elsius said Belgium was aware that the relative peace Burundi was enjoying required economic support. "Belgium attaches great importance to Burundi's political success. We are doing our part, we expect Burundi to move ahead in the right direction," he said.
Belgium was the colonial power in Burundi until its independence in 1962.
Batumubwira said the funding would benefit areas identified as priority sectors. Of the grant, 4.5 million euros ($5.6 million) would be used to buy books for primary-school pupils and teachers, as well as in the manufacture of 50,000 desks for primary schools.
Following the government's decision to make primary-school education free, the number of school-children has sharply increased, creating new demands on infrastructure and supplies, such as classrooms, desks and books.
The Belgian aid would help the government "improve the quality of teaching", Batumubwira said.
At least two million euros ($2.5 million) have been allocated to boost water supplies in the provinces of Kirundo, Rutana and Ruyigi, which had been identified as the most needy, according to Batumubwira. The Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Belgian Technical Cooperation will jointly manage the grant, expected to build 125 water sources and 70 water pumps.
The remaining 3.5 million euros ($4.4 million) has been allocated to roads in the Bujumbura neighbourhoods of Nyakabiga and Bwiza.
Belgium has already provided one million euros ($1.3 million) to build nine primary schools in the provinces of Bubanza, Kayanza and Ruyigi. It is also assisting Burundi in the reform of the police force in building the capacity of police officers.
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The grant is part of the 15 million euros ($18.7 million) Belgium pledged during the donor conference in the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, on 28 February.
The Belgian ambassador, François Cornet D'Elsius, and Burundi's minister of international relations and cooperation, Antoinette Batumubwira, signed the grant agreement on Tuesday in Bujumbura.
Batumubwira said Belgium's aid was "a sign of solidarity with the country".
Cornet D'Elsius said Belgium was aware that the relative peace Burundi was enjoying required economic support. "Belgium attaches great importance to Burundi's political success. We are doing our part, we expect Burundi to move ahead in the right direction," he said.
Belgium was the colonial power in Burundi until its independence in 1962.
Batumubwira said the funding would benefit areas identified as priority sectors. Of the grant, 4.5 million euros ($5.6 million) would be used to buy books for primary-school pupils and teachers, as well as in the manufacture of 50,000 desks for primary schools.
Following the government's decision to make primary-school education free, the number of school-children has sharply increased, creating new demands on infrastructure and supplies, such as classrooms, desks and books.
The Belgian aid would help the government "improve the quality of teaching", Batumubwira said.
At least two million euros ($2.5 million) have been allocated to boost water supplies in the provinces of Kirundo, Rutana and Ruyigi, which had been identified as the most needy, according to Batumubwira. The Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Belgian Technical Cooperation will jointly manage the grant, expected to build 125 water sources and 70 water pumps.
The remaining 3.5 million euros ($4.4 million) has been allocated to roads in the Bujumbura neighbourhoods of Nyakabiga and Bwiza.
Belgium has already provided one million euros ($1.3 million) to build nine primary schools in the provinces of Bubanza, Kayanza and Ruyigi. It is also assisting Burundi in the reform of the police force in building the capacity of police officers.
jb/js/oss
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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