The Ministère de la Communication et des médias launched a two-day training session for communication officers in the province of Buhumuza on 14 October 2026. On October 14, 2026, the Ministry of Communication and Media launched a two-day training session for communication officers in the province of Buhumuza. This initiative seeks to improve the skills of local personnel to better promote national achievements. Oscar Nzohabonayo, directeur de la communication et des médias, stated: "Il est nécessaire de prendre des mesures pour renforcer les capacités des chargés de communication afin que toutes les réalisations positives soient connues du public et contribuent à faire connaître davantage l’image du pays à l’échelle internationale." The ministry intends to reach a total of 400 local actors through these training sessions conducted across Burundi. The Ministry of Communication and Media aims to train a total of 400 local actors across the country. Current efforts focus on ensuring that government messaging remains consistent and effective for the public.
Targeting Local Communication Roles
Provincial communication advisors, administrators’ communication advisors, and zone-level advisors constitute the primary participants for this training program. The training program targets provincial communication advisors, administrators' communication advisors, and zone-level advisors. These roles serve as the frontline for disseminating information within their respective administrative jurisdictions, ensuring that government actions are communicated effectively to residents across the country.
Salvator Bigirimana, directeur cabinet principal du gouverneur, identified the necessity for this training by noting: "Plusieurs activités sont souvent réalisées sans être suffisamment médiatisées et finissent par être uniquement consignées dans des rapports administratifs, sans que le grand public en soit informé."
Officials designed this training initiative as a component of a larger strategy intended to support the emergence of Burundi by 2040. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to support Burundi's emergence by 2040 and development by 2060. The program aligns with national development goals projected for 2060. By equipping local communicators with digital skills, the Ministère de la Communication et des médias aims to ensure that administrative actions reach a wider audience, moving beyond internal reporting to generate greater public awareness of local and national progress.
The sessions are structured to provide participants with technical proficiency in digital communication tools. By focusing on these specific skill sets, the ministry expects to see a measurable improvement in how information is disseminated from the local level to the national stage. This systematic approach to capacity building is intended to standardize communication practices across all provinces, ensuring that the messages conveyed by local officials are uniform and aligned with the overarching objectives of the government. The training emphasizes the importance of digital literacy, recognizing that modern communication channels are essential for reaching a contemporary audience. As these advisors return to their respective zones, they are expected to implement new strategies that prioritize visibility and public engagement, thereby bridging the gap between administrative actions and the public's understanding of national development.