SA and Burundi Forge Public Service Partnership to Boost State Capacity

“This agreement marks a significant development in cementing relations between not just the two institutions, but also between South Africa and Burundi,” said Minister Buthelezi.

In a landmark step toward strengthening public administration on the African continent, South Africa and Burundi have formalized a new partnership that promises to bolster public service capacity and foster mutual learning between the two nations. The agreement, in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), was signed on Wednesday in Pretoria between South Africa’s National School of Government (NSG) and Burundi’s E’cole Nationale d’Administration (ENA).

The MoU was signed by Professor Busani Ngcaweni, Principal of the NSG, and Professor Jean de Dieu Ndikumana, Director General of ENA. The ceremony was witnessed by the Ambassador of Burundi to South Africa, Alexis Bukuru, underscoring the diplomatic significance of the initiative.

Minister of Public Service and Administration, Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi, welcomed the agreement, describing it as a crucial milestone in enhancing bilateral cooperation in the field of governance and civil service development. He emphasized that the collaboration is aligned with the African Union’s broader agenda to build state capacity and promote a capable, ethical, and development-oriented public sector across the continent.

“A Mutually Beneficial Partnership”

“This agreement marks a significant development in cementing relations between not just the two institutions, but also between South Africa and Burundi,” said Minister Buthelezi. “It contributes to the African Union's vision of a more effective and responsive public service that meets the developmental needs of our citizens. The NSG stands ready to support Burundi in building its public service capacity, and we believe there is just as much South Africa can learn from Burundi's experience in post-conflict state reconstruction.”

Burundi, having emerged from years of internal conflict, has made considerable strides in rebuilding its government institutions. ENA has played a key role in developing a new generation of civil servants equipped to lead the country’s socio-political and economic recovery. Minister Buthelezi noted that Burundi’s resilience and focus on institutional capacity-building make it a valuable partner in the pursuit of shared goals.

Key Areas of Cooperation

The MoU outlines several areas of collaboration between the NSG and ENA, reflecting a comprehensive and forward-looking agenda. These include:

• Capacity building for educators and facilitators: The two schools will jointly develop programs aimed at professionalising trainers and enhancing their digital facilitation skills, a move particularly relevant in today’s hybrid learning environment.

• Senior executive training: The institutions will work together to design and implement continuous training programs for high-ranking civil servants in Burundi, drawing on South Africa’s experience and educational resources.

• Exchange of trainees: Public servants from both countries will have opportunities to participate in cross-border training exchanges, promoting experiential learning and peer-to-peer engagement.

• Collaborative research and publication: Researchers and academics from both NSG and ENA will co-author academic papers, publish in joint journals, and host innovation conferences to share insights and findings on governance, leadership, and administration.

• Study visits and official exchanges: The MoU paves the way for delegations of officials and experts to undertake study visits, allowing both countries to observe and adopt best practices in public administration.

Leadership Commitment and Continental Impact

Both Professor Ngcaweni and Professor Ndikumana expressed enthusiasm about the prospects of the agreement and reaffirmed their commitment to its successful implementation. They highlighted the importance of academic and practical cooperation in improving the quality and effectiveness of public service delivery.

“This partnership is more than an institutional collaboration; it’s a commitment to the ideals of the African Renaissance,” said Ngcaweni. “Our goal is to ensure that public servants across Africa are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and values required to lead developmental change.”

Ndikumana echoed this sentiment, saying, “Through this partnership, we are investing in our people—the civil servants who play a pivotal role in national development. We are proud to work with South Africa to build a future-ready and resilient public administration.”

As African nations increasingly look to regional cooperation to tackle complex challenges—from governance reform to capacity development—this MoU sets a precedent for how knowledge-sharing and institutional partnerships can drive meaningful progress.

The partnership between the NSG and ENA is expected to take effect immediately, with implementation activities scheduled to roll out over the coming months.