Fondation Bonne Action Umugiraneza Receives 2026 United Nations Population Award

Fondation Bonne Action Umugiraneza, chaired by the First Lady of the Republic of Burundi, H.E. Madam Angeline Ndayishimiye, has been honored with the 2026 United Nations Population Award in the institutional category. The award was presented at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, acknowledging the foundation's contributions to improving community health, education, and well-being in Burundi.

Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of the Merck Foundation and President of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI), congratulated the First Lady and the foundation. The recognition highlights an ongoing partnership that began in 2020 between the Merck Foundation, the First Lady's office, Fondation Bonne Action Umugiraneza, and relevant government ministries.

This international recognition follows H.E. Madam Angeline Ndayishimiye receiving the United Nations Population Award in the individual category in 2023 for her advocacy and leadership in public health and well-being.

The collaborative framework pairs the advocacy and local coordination efforts of the First Lady with institutional implementation by Fondation Bonne Action Umugiraneza. H.E. Madam Ndayishimiye has worked alongside national ministries to support health professionals, promote public health awareness around conditions like diabetes and hypertension, and address social issues such as girls' education, child marriage, and gender-based violence.

Through its institutional partnership, Fondation Bonne Action Umugiraneza has collaborated with the Merck Foundation on initiatives such as the 'Educating Linda' program. This program provides annual educational scholarships to 40 high-performing but underprivileged Burundian schoolgirls, alongside the distribution of school items and storybooks.

In healthcare capacity building, the partnership with Burundi's health authorities and the First Lady's office has resulted in 55 scholarships for Burundian doctors across critical medical specialties. These efforts have contributed to establishing the country's first public IVF centre, alongside training programs for specialized care in cancer and diabetes.

Community awareness initiatives utilizing media, educational storybooks, and creative platforms have also been deployed to address sensitive health and social topics across the country, supporting the broader goals of the institutional collaboration.

"The recognition of Fondation Bonne Action Umugiraneza by the United Nations highlights the importance of structured institutional partnerships in driving long-term social and healthcare impact. By aligning philanthropic resources with local governmental coordination and targeted grassroots initiatives—such as medical scholarships and educational support for underprivileged youth—organizations can build sustainable local capacity. For enterprises and foundations alike, combining advocacy with measurable execution is key to achieving lasting development goals." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes