A Foundation to promote sustainable social development in Burundi

Under the High Patronage of the Minister of Human Rights, Social Affairs and Gender, Mr Martin Nivyabandi, an inaugural Conference of the Lance d'Afrique Burundi Foundation was organized in Bujumbura on March 19, 2020 under the theme 'Social Entrepreneurship and Women's Economic Empowerment'. In her welcome speech, the Founder of the Dr. Florence Nisabwe Foundation indicated that the Lance d'Afrique Burundi Foundation was born in 2017 in South Africa with the aim of supporting women, young girls and other vulnerable people for their economic development. She pointed out that the actions of the foundation are generally centered on Entrepreneurship, Capacity Building, Mentoring and Transfer of Skills. The Lance d'Afrique Burundi Foundation aims to promote sustainable social development, compatible with efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from a gender perspective, she added. In his official opening speech of the Lance d'Afrique Burundi Foundation, the Minister of Human Rights, Social Affairs and Gender, Mr Martin Nivyabandi said that the empowerment of women and girls begins with the recognition and the exercise of their fundamental rights. Minister Martin Nivyabandi indicated that recent global research has shown that the legal systems of many countries still include provisions that discriminate against women and girls, and therefore constitute a serious obstacle to the development of our societies. Minister Martin Nivyabandi invited the participants present in the inaugural session to have debates placed under the general title Legislating for the empowerment of women and sustainable development. For the Minister, the combination of efforts and knowledge at national and global level will allow for the economic development of women that we want. Were present in this inaugural session the representatives of the Government of Burundi, the representatives of the elected representatives of the people, the representatives of international organizations, women's organizations as well as some students from the universities of Burundi.