BUJUMBURA, October 10th (ABP) – The Head of State Evariste Ndayishimiye received in audience, on Tuesday October 8, 2024, Lydia Zigomo, Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). She was accompanied by Violet Kenyana Kakyomya, UN System Coordinator in Burundi, and Judicaël Elidge, UNFPA Resident Representative in Burundi.
After the audience, Judicaël Elidge reported that discussions between the President and Lydia Zigomo focused on the national vision. According to Elidge, the latter praised the government’s efforts in various fields, in particular the successful organization of the general census. According to Elidje, the government had been “the key player in achieving such an important objective for the country”.
He considered that the data from that census will provide the government, on the one hand, with basic elements for the revised development plan, as well as for the vision. On the other hand, it will help “development partners to adjust and work closely under the leadership of the government, in order to achieve the objectives of the vision on time”. Secondly, the two authorities discussed family planning. In that regard, Elidge pointed out that UNFPA supports Burundi, which has made a commitment by adopting a multi-sectoral plan. He pointed out that “with the support of partners, that will help population dynamics, an essential element in moving the country forward”.
Thirdly, discussions focused on youth. Recalling that President Ndayishimiye is “one of the African Union’s champions of youth, peace and security”, and having put “youth and women at the heart of his mandate through the PAEEJ program”, he reiterated the commitment of partners to support the government. He explicitly mentioned that the UN system and the various partners will cooperate with the government to ensure that “young people, especially girls, and women are empowered and contribute effectively to development”.
Before ending, Lydia Zigomo spoke of the possibility of achieving the 2040 and 2060 visions with the support of partners and under the leadership of the president, Elidge said.