The pledges were secured during the Dakar 2 Summit that enabled meetings between governments, private actors, and multilateral organizations. 

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has pledged US$3.6 billion in financing to the Burundian government, a release published by the country's presidency announced last Saturday.

According to President Evariste Ndayishimiye (photo), the pledged funds will finance a government development program, which includes the establishment of two agro poles in the provinces of Cibitoke and Karusi, and the construction of the Uvinza-Gitega-Bujumbura-Kindu railroad construction projects. The funding also aims to economically empower youth and women and help the country face climate issues and the consequences of the global fertilizer shortage.

The pledges were secured during the Dakar 2 Summit on food sovereignty and resilience held in Dakar from January 25 to 27. "It was an opportunity to share experiences with other countries and exchange on the challenges and possible solutions to ensure food security on the African continent," said Evariste Ndayishimiye, according to the release.

According to the president, the theme of that summit aligns perfectly with the current government's slogan "Mvyeyi et Nkozi," which means "Every mouth should have food and every pocket money." He revealed that to achieve the government's ambition in that regard, farmers were grouped into anti-hunger and poverty battalions and supported through the provision of agricultural inputs, seeds, fertilizers, and biopesticides. 

The National Bank for Economic Development, youth, and women empowerment banks as well as a Youth guarantee fund were also set up.

Jean-Marc Gogbeu