The government of Israel is seeking a collaboration with Burundi to support climate change adaptation and agriculture. With their ‘Africa Initiative’ Israel and Germany aim to implement strategies and tools to reduce the vulnerability of the rural population to climate change impacts in vulnerable regions of Burundi.-By Diane Uwimana
Leo Vinovezky (on the left) with the Israel delegation ©Iwacu
Germany and Israel will work together to extend their existing cooperation in areas of mutual interest, drawing on their respective comparative advantages to create synergies. While visiting Burundi on 3 and 4 December, Leo Vinovezky, Counsellor Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Israel, mentions that the Israeli government is proud to launch the Africa Initiative in Burundi, in collaboration with the German Cooperation for Development (GIZ).
“Israel doesn’t have an Embassy in Burundi or elsewhere in the region. Through the Germany government via its GIZ project, Israel wants to extend its project to more countries,” says Vinovezky.
He indicates that they are in the primary stages of program and planning.
“We will exchange experts from Germany and Burundi to Israel and vice versa. We will also recruit trainers from Burundi who will focus on learning by trying new technologies in Climate Change and agriculture as today it is important to transform the sector from the survival mode one to an industrial one”, he points out.
“We are more involved in climate change because the climate is changing and we saw what has happened in Burundi at the beginning of this year”, he adds.
Israel provides fellowships each year to Burundians to be trained in different domains through MASHAV, the Israeli Agency for International Cooperation and Development. “MASHAV Alumni, when returning from Israel, become true ambassadors in their respective countries”, he says.
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