Rabat – King Mohammed VI, and President of the Republic of Rwanda Paul Kagam, chaired, on Friday in Kigali, the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding between the “Mohammed VI Foundation for Sustainable Development” and “Imbuto Foundation.”
The Memorandum of understanding, which establishes an in-depth cooperation between the two foundations in the fields of health, youth capacity-building and the promotion of income-generating activities, was inked by president delegate of the Mohammed VI Foundation for Sustainable Development Mostapha Terrab and first deputy president of the Imbuto Foundation Rita Zirimwabagado.
Terrab made a presentation before the two leaders in which he underlined that the Mohammed VI Foundation for Sustainable Development, set up at the initiative of King Mohammed VI in 2008, is a nonprofit organization with the mission of promoting human and social development in the African continent.
The Foundation, which is operating in 7 countries (Senegal, Mali, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon and Madagascar), seeks to ameliorate access to health services and education, boost these countries’ socio-economic development, and elaborate programs to fight poverty, Terrab said.
Regarding the health sector, the Foundation built and equipped an ophthalmology clinic in Dakar, a perinatal clinic in Bamako, and a mother-child hospital in Conakry, in addition to granting drugs and biomedical equipment for the health authorities in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Gabon and Guinea Bissau, he said. 170 hospital beds were offered to health centers of partner countries, Terrab underlined, noting that 16,000 medical consultations and 800 ophthalmology surgeries are undertaken yearly.
Concerning youth capacity-building, Terrab recalled the large-scale projects carried out by the Foundation, notably the construction and equipment of vocational training centers in the fields of tourism, civil engineering, health, transportation, logistics and the building of elementary schools.
As for the promotion of income-generating activities, the Foundation contributed to the construction, in Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea Conakry and Senegal, of landing sites for small-scale fishermen, as well as the development of artificial insemination programs for the benefit of Malian breeders, he said.
In partnership with the Imbuto Foundation, the Mohammed VI Foundation for Sustainable Development will continue its action, in conformity with the King’s vision which is based the promotion of the human capital, south-south cooperation and values of solidarity, he concluded.
Director general of the Imbuto Foundation Sandrine Umotoni hailed this partnership, affirming that the Imbuto Foundation, which was established fifteen years ago, is working to improve the status of women and youth on the basis of excellence, integrity and commitment, which are values shared also by the Mohammed VI Foundation for Sustainable Development.
The Rwandan Foundation, which is involved in several projects in line with Rwanda’s national priorities in terms of development, seeks to help with the emergence of an educated, prosperous youth capable of actively participating in the country’s progress, said Umotoni.
She explained, on this occasion, the Foundation’s will to work jointly with the Mohammed VI Foundation for Sustainable Development to give concrete substance to common goals and reinforce the sharing of expertize between the two bodies.
Under this memorandum of understanding, the Rwandan Foundation will get a grant of one million euros awarded by the Mohammed VI Foundation for Sustainable Development to finance two projects in the health and education fields.
The ceremony was attended by members of the delegation accompanying the sovereign in his official visit to the Republic of Rwanda, members of the two foundations and several important figures.
