From June 16 to 28, 2024, AKI Project Manager Teklezghi Teklebrhan traveled to Burundi. The main goal of the trip was to assess the project dynamics, evaluate ongoing activities, conduct comprehensive discussions with existing partners, win new partners, and plan strategically for the future.

Visit to the University of Burundi:

Since 2021, there has been a collaboration between the University of Burundi and AKI in various fields. AKI now intends to leverage the university's expertise in climate protection to develop joint solutions. In this context, AKI project manager Teklezghi Teklebrhan and local project coordinator Pierre Maniragarura met with climate expert Dr. Athanase Nkunzimana from the University of Burundi. Both partners aim to work on this issue together in the future.

Site visit to the project area in Gitega and workshop with the project team:

Teklezghi Teklebrhan visited the project area in Gitega together with the project team to gain an overview of the activities conducted so far. In a subsequent workshop, the management team presented the conducted activities and measures and drafted an activity plan until the end of the year.

Visit to "Burundi Microbakeries" in Bujumbura:

Alice Karerwa, the country coordinator of Bread Against Misery Foundation and a master's student at the University of Burundi, introduced Teklezghi Teklebrhan to the "Burundi Microbakeries" group in Bujumbura and showed him the two new firewood ovens. The "Burundi Microbakeries" project aims to support young entrepreneurs in Burundi and enable them to start their own small businesses.

Visit to tree nurseries in Gitega Province with the "Environment and Climate Club":

The AKI project manager, the local management team, and the “Environment and Climate Club” from Gitega Province visited tree nurseries in Gitega Province. Prof. Diomède Ndayisaba from the University of Burundi also attended, highlighting the negative impacts of climate change and emphasizing the crucial role of trees in combating climate change. Under the guidance of Prof. Diomède Ndayisaba, the club defined its mission and vision in a subsequent training session.

Visit to the agroforestry project and a coffee farming "champion":

Together with the responsible team for the agroforestry project of Hochschule für Forstwirtschaft Rottenburg (HFR) - Prof. Bernadette Habonimana, Audace Niyonzimana, Oscar Niyomwungere, Christophe Nkurunziza, and Prof. Spéciose Gacoreke, Teklezghi Teklebrhan visited the agroforestry project in Gitega. The visit was part of the ongoing exchanges and planned collaboration with HFR. The team visited a coffee farming "champion" near Gitega to observe a typical agroforestry system. His project area provides an excellent impression of what an "optimal" coffee-agroforestry system can look like.

Visit to the project "Green Future: Sustainable Climate Protection Project" in Nyanza-Lac:

Since the beginning of the year, AKI has expanded the climate protection project to Nyanza-Lac in the south of the country. Together with Dr. Alois Misago, coordinator of the cluster "Peace Work" and head of the German Culture Center, and David Ninteretse, project coordinator of Roots & Shoots Burundi, Teklezghi Teklebrhan and Pierre Maniragarura visited the two nurseries in Nyanza-Lac. Following this, a seminar was held, attended by representatives of the mayor of Nyanza-Lac and over 200 volunteers. The aim of the seminar was to promote peace, raise awareness about climate change, and intensify efforts in combating climate change.

The project manager drew a positive balance of his visit: The discussions with the project team and partners were very successful and satisfactory, and the project manager is optimistic that the remaining activities for this year can be implemented very well.

The project „Green future: sustainable climate protection project in Burundi“ is funded by the Ministry of Food, Rural Areas and Consumer Protection - Baden-Württemberg (MLR) since January 2024.