The country<\/h2><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>Burundi is a small landlocked country in the Great Lakes region, between Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Its landscape is largely hilly and mountainous. Since 2019 the political capital has been Gitega, while Bujumbura remains the main economic centre. Around 80% of the population lives off agriculture, mostly subsistence farming, and coffee and tea are the main export crops. The economy is among the most fragile in the world: after years of very high inflation, only recently easing, recurrent fuel shortages continue to weigh on daily life, and about two thirds of the population live in extreme poverty.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
![\"Global](\"https:\/\/www.paolochiesifoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Il-paese_400x600_1.jpg\" "\\"The")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>According to United Nations estimates, Burundi has around 14 million inhabitants living in an area slightly smaller than Belgium, making it one of the most densely populated countries in Africa. The population is very young, with more than 40% under the age of 15, and women have, on average, almost five children. Life expectancy at birth is about 62 years for men and 66 for women.<\/p>\n
Independent since 1962, the country went through a long civil war between 1993 and 2005, which ended with the Arusha peace agreements and a new constitution. Today, Burundi is also dealing with the consequences of the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: according to UNHCR, around 80,000 people fleeing the South Kivu region arrived in the country in December 2025 alone.<\/p>\n
The country has significantly reduced child mortality, but many challenges remain. More than half of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition, and malaria is the leading cause of illness. A shortage of foreign currency also makes it difficult to import medicines and medical equipment. Neonatal mortality stands at 20 deaths per 1,000 live births, while maternal mortality, at 392 deaths per 100,000 live births, is among the highest in the region. This is why the Foundation works in Burundi through the NEST Model (Neonatal Essentials for Survival and Thriving), improving the quality of care for the most vulnerable newborns.<\/p>\n
(Sources: United Nations, World Population Prospects 2024<\/a>; UN IGME<\/a>; WHO<\/a>; UNICEF<\/a>; UNDP, Human Development Report 2025<\/a>; World Bank<\/a>; African Development Bank<\/a>; WFP<\/a>)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>Burundi in numbers<\/h2><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>0<\/span><\/div>Population<\/div><\/div><\/div>0<\/span><\/div>Surface area (km\u00b2)<\/div><\/div><\/div>0<\/span><\/div>Human Development Index<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>0<\/span><\/div>Male life expectancy<\/div><\/div><\/div>0<\/span><\/div>Female life expectancy<\/div><\/div><\/div>0<\/span><\/div>Neonatal mortality (\/1,000 live births)<\/div><\/div><\/div>0<\/span><\/div>Maternal mortality (\/100,000)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>Burundi in numbers<\/p><\/h2><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>0<\/span><\/div>Population<\/div><\/div><\/div>0<\/span><\/div>Surface area (km\u00b2)<\/div><\/div><\/div>0<\/span><\/div>Human Development Index<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>0<\/span><\/div>Male life expectancy<\/div><\/div><\/div>0<\/span><\/div>Female life expectancy<\/div><\/div><\/div>0<\/span><\/div>Neonatal mortality (\/1,000 live births)<\/div><\/div><\/div>0<\/span><\/div>Maternal mortality (\/100,000)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"Neonatology](\"https:\/\/www.paolochiesifoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Il-nostro-intervento_400x600_1.jpg\" "\\"Our")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>Our intervention<\/h2><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>The Paolo Chiesi Foundation has been operating in Burundi since 2014, through a collaboration with the Amahoro pro Africa Association<\/strong><\/a> and the Ngozi Regional Hospital<\/strong>, with the aim of improving the quality of neonatal care and strengthening the care of premature and complicated newborns.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>After supporting the establishment of the Kangaroo Care unit<\/strong> at Ngozi Regional Hospital, the Foundation initiated a program aimed at expanding Kangaroo Care in Butanyerera Province, northern Burundi. A national manual, educational materials, and a cascading training model for trainers were developed. This program led, in 2023, to the Ministry of Health’s recognition of Ngozi Regional Hospital as a national reference center for Kangaroo Care training<\/strong> and the validation of the training materials nationwide.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"Neonatology](\"https:\/\/www.paolochiesifoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Il-nostro-intervento_400x600_2.jpg\" "\\"Our")
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Burundi is a small landlocked country in the Great Lakes region, between Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Its landscape is largely hilly and mountainous. Since 2019 the political capital has been Gitega, while Bujumbura remains the main economic centre. Around 80% of the population lives off agriculture, mostly subsistence farming, and coffee and tea are the main export crops. The economy is among the most fragile in the world: after years of very high inflation, only recently easing, recurrent fuel shortages continue to weigh on daily life, and about two thirds of the population live in extreme poverty.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>According to United Nations estimates, Burundi has around 14 million inhabitants living in an area slightly smaller than Belgium, making it one of the most densely populated countries in Africa. The population is very young, with more than 40% under the age of 15, and women have, on average, almost five children. Life expectancy at birth is about 62 years for men and 66 for women.<\/p>\n
Independent since 1962, the country went through a long civil war between 1993 and 2005, which ended with the Arusha peace agreements and a new constitution. Today, Burundi is also dealing with the consequences of the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: according to UNHCR, around 80,000 people fleeing the South Kivu region arrived in the country in December 2025 alone.<\/p>\n
The country has significantly reduced child mortality, but many challenges remain. More than half of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition, and malaria is the leading cause of illness. A shortage of foreign currency also makes it difficult to import medicines and medical equipment. Neonatal mortality stands at 20 deaths per 1,000 live births, while maternal mortality, at 392 deaths per 100,000 live births, is among the highest in the region. This is why the Foundation works in Burundi through the NEST Model (Neonatal Essentials for Survival and Thriving), improving the quality of care for the most vulnerable newborns.<\/p>\n
(Sources: United Nations, World Population Prospects 2024<\/a>; UN IGME<\/a>; WHO<\/a>; UNICEF<\/a>; UNDP, Human Development Report 2025<\/a>; World Bank<\/a>; African Development Bank<\/a>; WFP<\/a>)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> Burundi in numbers<\/p><\/h2><\/span> The Paolo Chiesi Foundation has been operating in Burundi since 2014, through a collaboration with the Amahoro pro Africa Association<\/strong><\/a> and the Ngozi Regional Hospital<\/strong>, with the aim of improving the quality of neonatal care and strengthening the care of premature and complicated newborns.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> After supporting the establishment of the Kangaroo Care unit<\/strong> at Ngozi Regional Hospital, the Foundation initiated a program aimed at expanding Kangaroo Care in Butanyerera Province, northern Burundi. A national manual, educational materials, and a cascading training model for trainers were developed. This program led, in 2023, to the Ministry of Health’s recognition of Ngozi Regional Hospital as a national reference center for Kangaroo Care training<\/strong> and the validation of the training materials nationwide.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>Burundi in numbers<\/h2><\/span>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>Our intervention<\/h2><\/span>
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