Cooperation mission in Burkina Faso

Isabelle Rosabrunetto, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and H.E. Mr Roch Marc Christian Kabore, President of Burkina Faso  ©DIRCOM:Présidence du Faso

As part of efforts to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, a Monegasque delegation travelled to Burkina Faso from 26 to 29 June 2016 for a working visit, which notably included an audience granted by the country’s President, H.E. Mr Roch Marc Christian KABORE.

During their visit, the Monegasque delegation, led by Isabelle Rosabrunetto, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, was received at the highest levels of the Burkinabe Government. The meeting with the President afforded an opportunity to present the main partnerships that Monaco’s Official Development Assistance has established in Burkina Faso, and to discuss bilateral relations and the prospects for future cooperation between the two countries.

The visit was also a chance for the Monegasque delegation to visit several projects supported by the Department of International Cooperation and aimed at the most vulnerable groups in society. The projects, which cover areas such as malaria control, support for professional training and apprenticeships, social entrepreneurship, day centres for street children and access to literacy initiatives, are part of the Prince’s Government’s cooperation policy and are in line with the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations.

The delegation also attended the official launch ceremony for the Loumbila Multipurpose Training Centre project (providing a second lease of life for the Monaco Pavilion following Expo Milano 2015), alongside Burkinabe officials and representatives from the Monaco and Burkina Faso Red Cross organisations.

Finally, the Civil Defence Assistance Programme was highlighted, particularly during the ceremony at which equipment was handed over to the Burkina Faso National Fire Brigade and at the Ouagadougou Higher Institute for Civil Defence Studies, where Lieutenant-Colonel Tony Varo and Warrant Officer Alain Sacany received, respectively, gold and silver medals of honour for firefighting. The ceremony concluded the Monaco Fire and Emergency Service expert mission to Burkina Faso, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Tony Varo.

Representatives from the two countries welcomed the momentum of this cooperation initiative launched in 2004, and reiterated their desire to maintain a policy dialogue at a high level.

A framework cooperation agreement was signed between the governments of Monaco and Burkina Faso in 2012.