Aninver to lead the feasibility study for a new Higher Institute of Mines and Transport in Burundi
World Bank–financed PACEJ Project | University of Burundi | August – October 2026
Aninver Development Partners has been awarded a new contract under the PACEJ Project (Projet d'Appui à l'Amélioration des Compétences et de l'Employabilité des Femmes et des Jeunes), financed by the World Bank and implemented by Burundi's Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research. The assignment consists of preparing the feasibility study for the establishment of the Higher Institute of Mines and Transport (Institut Supérieur des Mines et Transports – ISMT) at the University of Burundi.
The future Institute is intended to become the country's reference centre for higher technical education in two sectors that sit at the heart of Burundi's development strategy: mining and transport. Burundi holds significant untapped mineral resources, while its landlocked position makes efficient transport and logistics corridors a precondition for growth in almost every other sector. Both industries face the same bottleneck — a shortage of qualified national technicians, engineers and managers.
Scope of the assignment
Over the course of the study, our team will assess whether — and under what conditions — the ISMT can be established as a financially and institutionally sustainable institution. The work covers:
- Economic and social rationale. Analysis of the mining and transport sectors in Burundi, their growth outlook and their contribution to the national economy.
- Training and skills needs. A labour-market driven assessment of the profiles, qualifications and volumes of graduates that employers in both sectors will require, and the corresponding academic programmes.
- Infrastructure requirements. Definition of the physical facilities, laboratories, workshops and equipment needed, together with preliminary siting and investment estimates.
- Academic and governance model. Design of the Institute's institutional set-up, its relationship with the University of Burundi, its management structure and its partnerships with industry.
- Financing needs and long-term viability. Capital and operating cost estimates, funding options, and financial modelling of the Institute's sustainability beyond the initial investment period.
- Implementation roadmap. A sequenced action plan setting out the steps, responsibilities and timeline required to bring the Institute into operation.
Aligned with Burundi's human capital agenda
The PACEJ Project is one of the pillars of the Government of Burundi's human capital agenda. Backed by an IDA grant of USD 80 million signed in 2021, it seeks to strike a balance between investing in the quality of training in strategic sectors and diversifying employment opportunities for young people and women from different backgrounds. The project also supports systemic reforms in technical and vocational education, and has already financed the development of new institutions at the University of Burundi, including the Institute of Digital Technologies (ITN).
The ISMT feasibility study extends that logic to mining and transport. By anchoring the Institute in a rigorous assessment of employer demand, governance arrangements and long-term financing, the study aims to ensure that the new institution delivers graduates the economy can absorb — and that it remains viable once donor financing ends.
Our experience
The assignment builds on Aninver's track record in infrastructure advisory, feasibility studies and institutional development across Africa, and on our work supporting public institutions in structuring investments that are technically sound, financially sustainable and aligned with market needs. The study runs from August to October 2026.
Learn more about our Infrastructure & PPP work: https://lnkd.in/d_BGc9-z
Contact Alvaro de la Maza ama@aninver.com +34 951 767 973
