New Agreement Strengthens CABI’s Footprint In Burundi
22 June 2026, Burundi: CABI has signed a Host Country Agreement with the Government of Burundi, marking a significant step in formalizing its long-term commitment to agricultural development, research, innovation and food security in the country.
The agreement provides a stronger legal and institutional foundation for CABI’s work in Burundi, enabling closer collaboration with national institutions and paving the way for expanded programmes that support farmers, strengthen plant health systems and build agricultural resilience.
The signing ceremony was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and presided over by Ambassador Nahayo Adolphe, General Director in charge of International Organizations. Among those present were Mr Mahoro Anicet, Director of International Organizations; Ms Kaneza Elada, the Ministry’s focal point for CABI; and Mme Ida Rademaker, representing the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Burundi, which funds the CABI PlantwisePlus project in Burundi. Also in attendance was Dr Samson Musonerimana, Director General of the Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi (ISABU), a liaison institution and key partner of CABI in Burundi.
For CABI, the ceremony brought together Dr Morris Akiri, Executive Director for Africa; Dr Janny Vos, Director of Partnerships; Dr Willis Ochilo, PlantwisePlus Burundi Project Manager; and Dr Célestin Niyongere, CABI Country Coordinator.
A foundation for future collaboration
Dr Morris Akiri, Executive Director, Africa at CABI, said the signing of the Host Country Agreement reflects the strength of CABI’s partnership with the Government of Burundi and provides a solid platform for future collaboration.
“This agreement is an important milestone for CABI’s work in Burundi,” he said. “It strengthens our ability to work closely with national institutions and partners to support farmers, improve plant health systems and contribute to food security and agricultural resilience across the country.”
Ambassador Nahayo Adolphe, Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commended CABI’s impactful work in supporting rural communities, education, and national institutions. He encouraged continued alignment with the government’s vision for agriculture and environmental sectors, highlighting the valuable contributions of CABI experts from different centres to the implementation of PlantwisePlus in Burundi.
High-level engagements with key national and international partners
The signing also coincided with a series of high-level engagements with national and international partners. Discussions were held with the Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi (ISABU), ENABEL, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Bank, and teams from the PACEJ and BRIDEP projects, as well as the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Burundi and the EU Delegation.
These conversations focused on CABI’s ongoing work in the country, particularly through the PlantwisePlus programme, and explored opportunities for greater alignment and collaboration across the wider agricultural development community in Burundi. Strengthening the national plant health system, supporting sustainable crop production and improving farmer livelihoods were recurring themes across the discussions.
Supporting sustainable agriculture through pesticide risk awareness
As part of the visit, CABI also met with Gwaga, its communication partner for the national Mass Extension Campaign (MEC), implemented under the Umwimbu ku Bwacu identity, loosely translated as “By adopting responsible actions, we maximise harvests in both quality and quantity.” Conducted between November and December 2025, the campaign delivered targeted messaging on key pests, including mango mealybug (MMB), papaya mealybug (PMB), and tomato leafminer.
The pesticide risk awareness campaign in Burundi increased farmers’ knowledge and safe practices through diverse communication channels, reaching millions and engaging community leaders. It resulted in high awareness, improved understanding, and behavioral changes like increased PPE use and early disease reporting. Despite challenges such as connectivity and supply issues, the campaign highlighted the importance of tailored messaging and stakeholder engagement, with policy suggestions to enhance supply, training, and regulations for sustainable pest management and healthier agriculture.
Seeing impact in the field
An additional visit to a cooperative implementing CABI’s Community Conversation gender intervention highlighted how structured dialogue is helping communities address inequalities in decision-making, encouraging more inclusive participation between men and women in household and farming decisions. This approach is contributing to stronger, more resilient livelihoods.
Further field visits took place in plant clinics, offering a closer look at how PlantwisePlus Burundi is helping farmers access timely, reliable advice on managing crop pests and diseases. The visit of the Institut Technique Agricole du Burundi (ITABS) showed how the PlantwisePlus investment in education targeting young students will sustain services to farmers in Burundi.
PlantwisePlus Burundi is a multi-year programme designed to strengthen the country’s national plant health system and support sustainable crop production, improved farmer livelihoods and greater agricultural resilience.
Dr Willis Ochilo, Senior Project Manager at CABI, highlighted the value of the engagements held during the visit, particularly in connecting PlantwisePlus Burundi’s work with the broader network of partners operating in the country.
“Meeting with partners gave us the opportunity to share what we are doing on the ground and identify where our efforts can be better aligned,” he said. “Seeing the Community Conversation approach in action, and the work happening through our plant clinics and with ITABS, reminds us why these partnerships matter.”
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