09 February 2026

Med-Or Italian Foundation inaugurates its office in Nairobi

Minister Bernini inaugurates Med-Or’s first international headquarters in Nairobi

On Sunday, 8 February 2026, the Med-Or Italian Foundation officially inaugurated its office in Nairobi, its first international headquarters. The opening marks a important step in strengthening the Foundation’s operational presence in Africa and in deepening the dialogue between Italy, Africa and Europe.

The inauguration ceremony brought together senior representatives from Italian and Kenyan institutions as well as regional and multilateral organisations. Attendees included Italy’s Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini; the Deputy Coordinator of the Mattei Plan Task Force, Lorenzo Ortona; and senior officials from the Government of Kenya, including Abraham Korir Sing’Oei, Principal Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs; Betsy M. Njagi, Principal Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs; Juma Mukhwana, Principal Secretary for Industry, Trade and Investments; and Ali Mohamed, Special Envoy to President William Ruto for Climate Change.

The event was also attended by Ali Guyo, IGAD Special Envoy for the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and Somalia; Vincenzo Del Monaco, Ambassador of Italy to Kenya; Arnaud Suquet, Ambassador of France to Kenya; Heiko Nitzschke, Germany’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa; and Henriette Geiger, Head of the European Union Delegation to Kenya. Med-Or was represented by Letizia Colucci, General Director of the Foundation, and Umberto Tavolato, Executive Director of Med-Or Africa.

Nairobi was selected as Med-Or’s regional base in recognition of Kenya’s role as a political, economic and logistical hub in East Africa and as a natural bridge between Africa and Europe. The new office will serve as an operational centre for coordinating, promoting and monitoring the Foundation’s projects, with a strong focus on sustainable development, skills exchange between Italy and African partners, and strengthened cooperation between the public and private sectors.

With the opening of its Nairobi office, Med-Or reinforces its commitment to delivering concrete initiatives and building structured, long-term partnerships, confirming on-the-ground engagement as a central pillar of its work across the African continent.