Who are we?

The CoLD association (Local Skills, pillar of Sustainable Development) is a Burundian non-profit organization, approved by Ministerial Order No. 530/428 of March 27, 2024. We believe that the genuine and sustainable development of Burundi relies on valuing its human and intellectual skills.

Our vision: A Burundi where every citizen can fully develop their potential, in sustainable, inclusive, and resilient communities.

Our mission: To promote the valorization of local skills and the improvement of education quality.

Our values: Solidarity, excellence, innovation, integrity, and sustainability. 

Our team is made up of teacher-researchers from the top Burundian institutions (École Normale Supérieure, University of Burundi), bringing together expertise in education, research, project management, and technology. 

Our achievements: We have already trained 64 young people in electronics and programming, who have built 28 functional prototypes, including a steerable electric car, a smart fan, programmable traffic lights, an educational electrolyzer, and more. These results have been presented to UNICEF, the French Physical Society, and to other entities. 

The challenge we turn into an opportunity

 

Burundi has an exceptional pool of young talent, but this human capital remains untapped due to a lack of digital infrastructure, trained teachers, and innovation spaces. While the world is speeding up, our schools are staying disconnected (no internet, no labs, no FabLab). The territorial divide condemns rural areas to a double penalty: no access, no opportunities. The result: promising ideas die, scientific vocations fade, and local innovation does not exist. It is a direct loss for the whole ecosystem and a unique opportunity for a visionary partner to help us build the first sustainable digital educational ecosystem in Burundi, one that can be replicated across East Africa.

Our solution: the edTech project AMASHO.

We do not just deliver computers, we are building the first sustainable digital education ecosystem in Burundi: an integrated framework where connectivity, training, and innovation feed off each other. Thanks to a cascading multiplier effect, 4,850 teachers will be certified, and 50 innovation clubs will produce at least 50 tangible projects per year starting in the third year. Our self-sustaining business model (subscriptions, services, incubation) ensures longevity well beyond the initial funding. Rolled out across all 42 communes, this project cuts the skills gap between cities and rural areas by 30%, while creating a pool of talent and start-ups. It is a high-impact social and economic investment opportunity that can be replicated across East Africa.

5-Year Rollout

Our 5-phase rollout ensures a controlled ramp-up: piloting (2026-2027), pilot phase (2027-2028, 12 institutions), expansion (2028-2029, +18 institutions), consolidation (2029-2030, +18 institutions and outreach across the 42 municipalities), and sustainability (2030-2032, with the AMASHO Center as a technological showcase). This gradual pace guarantees continuous learning, on-the-ground adjustments, and a measurable reduction in inequalities by the third year.

Synergy

We represent an experienced Burundian team, with an intimate knowledge of the education system, proven results already validated in the field, and strong academic partnerships (ENS, CRMP, University of Burundi). We benefit from the support of USF (Universitaires Sans Frontières), a French association, which strengthens our anchoring and credibility with European institutions. We are looking for partners to respond to international project calls: as co-leaders, they enable the submission of the project to potential funding sources that are demanding the credibility of the proposal. Together, we are building much more than a project: we are laying the foundations of an innovative educational model, replicable on an East African scale, with a sustainable social and economic impact, so we are putting all the chances on our side to secure structuring funding.

Dr NDAGIJIMANA Jean Marie, Founder and Legal Representative of the CoLD association, Phone: +257 61 388 426 / +257 77 510 257, Email: ndagijeanmarie@gmal.com

Prof MILLE Alain, Digital, AI, and EdTech Expert, Academics Without Borders NGO, Email: alain.mille@gmail.com

Dr SANOUSSI Hamadou, Expert in Project Set-up and Management, Academics Without Borders NGO, Email: sannoussi@yahoo.fr