Burundi & Global Partnership for Education: New Funding Model

February 22, 2026 Priya Shah – Business Editor Business

On March 1st, 2026, Burundi’s Minister of Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning, Dr. Domitien Ndihokubwayo, alongside French Ambassador Jérémie Blin and the Regional Director of the French Development Agency (AFD) for East Africa, Hélène N’Garnim-Ganga, formalized a financing agreement to bolster primary education initiatives within the country.

The agreement supplements the implementation of Burundi’s Education Sector Plan 2022–2030 and its Education Sector Strategy, known as the “Twige Neza” project. A total of $21.3 million USD, provided by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), will be channeled through the AFD, which has been designated as the “agent partenaire” by the Burundian government and other technical and financial partners for the Twige Neza project. This builds upon an initial GPE allocation and a direct AFD grant of 4 million euros, aimed at improving access to quality fundamental education for children aged 6 to 15.

The AFD has been a key partner in Burundi’s education sector since 2006. According to the GPE, Burundi has received $213,962,930 USD in funding since 2012. The current funding is intended to amplify the transformative effects of the Twige Neza project, which began in 2019.

The financing agreement was signed in the presence of Burundi’s Minister of National Education and Scientific Research, François Havyarimana. The GPE has designated Burundi as eligible for funding in 2025, categorized as a “multiplier” for capacity building and system transformation.

A joint sector review of education, supported by the GPE through UNICEF, was conducted in 2023-2025 to strengthen coordination among stakeholders, including educational authorities, technical and financial partners, teachers, civil society, and the private sector.

The GPE’s priorities for Burundi focus on improving equitable and inclusive learning outcomes. UNESCO and the European Union are listed as coordinating agencies for the GPE’s work in Burundi, with Lucinda Ramos serving as the GPE country manager.