Nairobi, 18 March 2024 – The new headquarters of the regional office of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (Aics) in Nairobi were officially inaugurated this afternoon. The Nairobi regional office is responsible for Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the Republic Democrat of the Congo.
The inauguration ceremony, which culminated with the cutting of the ribbon by the Italian Ambassador to Kenya Roberto Natali and the Director of Aics, Marco Riccardo Rusconi, took place in the presence of around 200 guests including organizations from the Civil Society, United Nations Agencies, representatives of Ministries and local institutions of Kenya, cooperation agencies and heads of mission from partner countries, representatives of the private sector and young local leaders.
The event took place during the mission of a high-level delegation from Rome led by the Director General for Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and of the International Cooperation, Stefano Gatti, engaged in a series of visits to the countries of the East African area (Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya) to identify projects together with the partner countries to be included in the Mattei Plan.
The guests were welcomed by the opening words of Ambassador Natali, who underlined the strategic importance of Africa: "It is said that Africa is the continent of the future, but I believe that Africa is instead the continent of the present; that's what we are for committed in Kenya to cooperate and to do it together with our partners, with a view to co-development and mutual benefit".
The Director of Aics, Marco Riccardo Rusconi, underlined in his speech that "The Agency also plays a key role within the Mattei Plan launched by the Italian Government: the strategy aims to write a new page in relations between Italy and Africa, investing in key sectors that represent shared priorities with the involvement of Italian excellence".
The Director of the AICS regional office in Nairobi, Giovanni Grandi, concluded by declaring: "The office we are inaugurating today is responsible for the implementation of cooperation initiatives in seven East African countries, including two priority countries for Italian Cooperation, which are Kenya and Somalia. This area presents immense economic potential for the development of Africa; it is therefore of strategic importance for Italian Cooperation".
With a total portfolio of approximately 255 million Euros, which includes donated, aid credit and European Union-funded initiatives, the Aics regional headquarters in Nairobi collaborates with a vast network of local and international partners, operating in field of development and emergency to respond to the various challenges and fragilities that characterize a region that is as promising as it is complex.
The new AICS Nairobi Offices
Ambassador Roberto Natali and AICS Director Marco Rusconi cut the ribbon at the inauguration
Participants at the inauguration ceremony
From the left: Valeria Buoninfante, Deputy Head of Office, Giovanni Grandi, Head of AICS Nairobi Regional Office, H.E. Roberto Natali, Ambassador of Italy to Kenya, and Marco Rusconi, Director of AICS