On 6 May 2025, SPARK formalised the signing of a strategic partnership with UNFPA Burundi, marking a significant milestone in the pursuit of inclusive and sustainable development.

This new collaboration brings together SPARK’s expertise in entrepreneurship, skills training, and youth employment with UNFPA’s global leadership in sexual and reproductive health, gender based violence, and youth economic empowerment. This partnership is guided by a shared goal: to empower young people, promote gender equality, and strengthen the resilience of communities across Burundi.

SPARK and UNFPA will join efforts to expand access to sexual and reproductive health education, ensuring that young people are equipped with the knowledge and autonomy necessary to shape their future; and to expand youth employment opportunities by strengthening entrepreneurial competencies so as to equip young women and men for a greater integration into the labour market. Moreover, through inclusive and gender-sensitive programming, SPARK and UNFPA will work to strengthen community resilience and promote safer, more equitable economic environments for all.

Judicael Elidje, Resident Representative of UNFPA, said:

This partnership reflects our shared vision for building more inclusive and empowered societies.

Stephanie Andersen, Country Manager of SPARK Burundi, added:

By uniting global strategy with local implementation, we can unlock sustainable solutions for youth and communities.

It is important to note that this partnership builds upon the strong foundations laid by SPARK in Burundi in recent years through the Akazi Keza programme (2020–2024), during which more than 5,000 jobs were created through targeted interventions in entrepreneurship and employability. These included SPARK’s skill-up, start-up, and scale-up support pillars, proximity coaching, access to finance, and job creation initiatives. These efforts have delivered tangible results in increasing youth employability and advancing private sector development, and this new collaboration seeks to amplify and sustain that momentum.

As this partnership moves into action, both organisations remain committed to achieving tangible, community-led impact through collaboration, innovation, and a deep understanding of local contexts.