SDG Visit to Ivory Coast

In her capacity of SDG Advocate for the United Nations, Queen Mathilde visited Ivory Coast From 3 to 6 March 2024.

Mathilde made field visits in Abidjan, Grand-Lahou and San Pedro that focused on health, education, gender equality, women's independance, climate change and the work in the cocoa industry.

Sunday 3 March 2024

Arrival in Abidjan.

At the Presidential Palace the Queen had a meeting with Kaba Nialé, Minister for Planning and Development who will accompany Mathilde the coming days.

Monday 4 March 2024

Meeting with President Alassane Dramane Ouatarra and his wife, Dominique Ouatarra.

Mathilde was accompanied by her private secretary, Machteld Fostier and by ambassador Carole Van Eyll.

🇧🇪🇨🇮 Belgian Queen Mathilde in Ivory Coast - Day 1

🤝 She is welcomed by the President of Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara, in his residence in Abidjan. The Queen is Advocate for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

🛞 She is driven around in a Maybach V12. pic.twitter.com/eF6okNQp9O

— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) March 4, 2024

Entretien avec Sa Majesté Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz, Reine des Belges, ce lundi 04 mars 2024. pic.twitter.com/EXnzj5DTpi

— Alassane Ouattara (@AOuattara_PRCI) March 4, 2024

She was briefed by the UN agencies who develop projects locally.  

Together with Mrs Ouatarra, Queen Mathilde visit to the Hôpital Mère Enfant in Bingerville.

video: https://www.hln.be/video/productie/koningin-mathilde-op-werkbezoek-in-ivoorkust-430637

Visit to a refuge for teenage girls who used to be homeless and abused.

video: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/kijk/2024/03/04/koningin-in-ivoorkust-j19-arvato-64372844/

At the Félix Houphouët-Boigny-Cocody University, Queen Mathilde took part in a talk with students who develop new ideas local youth and projects for more sustainability. 

Tuesday 5 March 2024

With UNICEF Mathilde discovered the projects of Conceptos Plasticos, who have built 500 classrooms out of recycled plastic. Mathilde saw the results at nursery ‘Mamie Faitai’ in Yopougon. 

In Lahou-Kpanda Queen Mathilde witnessed the effects climate change has on the natural environment. Each year the local fishermen loose big chunks of land to the ocean. Erosion has been eating away at two thirds of the Ivory shores.

Together with the World Bank's project to fight this problem, Belgian firm DEME will start dredging works to protect the shores.

video: https://www.hln.be/royalty/koningin-mathilde-trapt-penaltys-tijdens-bezoekje-aan-voetbalstadion-in-ivoorkust~aeb26dc5/

Meeting female footballers at the Stade Laurent Pokou, San Pedro. Ivory Coast won the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations!

🇧🇪🇨🇮 Belgian Queen Mathilde dances in football stadium…

⚽️ She meets girls who play football - a way of empowerment via sports.

📍 Stade Laurent Pokou, San Pedro (this stadium hosted matches for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which was won by host country Ivory Coast) pic.twitter.com/fatN45B5oK

— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) March 5, 2024

Wednesday 6 March 2024

In Méagui Mathilde visited a cocoa plantation where she was shown how cocoa beans are harvested.

Harvests are increasingly suffering from the effects of climate change. Meanwhile the cocoa farmers don't receive a decent income, which forces them to revert to child labour. 

On 21 April Mathilde will open the World Cocoa Conference in Brussels. This international get together for the cocoa industry will discuss the price of cocoa, the sustainability of the produce and an honest income for the producers. 

videos were Mathilde is interviewed: https://www.hln.be/royalty/koningin-mathilde-bezoekt-cacaoplantage-in-ivoorkust-en-helpt-mee-oogsten-bijzonder-moeilijke-situatie~a5343ed1/

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/kijk/2024/03/06/koningin-mathilde-bezoekt-cacaoboeren-ivoorkust-arvato-64428337/

[Economie] Sa Majesté la Reine Mathilde de la Belgique🇧🇪 visite une plantation de cacao dans 🇨🇮la région de la Nawa #RTIinfo @belgiumabidjan @OITAbidjan @MonarchieBe @oimcotedivoire pic.twitter.com/CpmB4Vwy8Y

— RTI Info (@RTI_info) March 7, 2024

Back in Abidjan it was time for the final activity: a visit to Comman Ya, a female entrepreneurship network.