Ivo Graziani, the Chief of Cabinet of the Grand Hospitaller of the Sovereign Order of Malta, conducted an official visit to Tallinn, Estonia on January 28-30, 2025, to observe and support the Order’s local humanitarian activities. The visit highlighted the deepening cooperation between the Order of Malta and its Estonian partners, with a focus on charitable outreach and community engagement.
A tripartite meeting between the Sovereign Order of Malta, the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) and HealthEst Agency OÜ took place in the Embassy of the Order of Malta in Tallinn. The Order of Malta was represented by Ivo Graziani, the Chief of Cabinet of the Grand Hospitaller and H.E. Manfred Ritter Mautner von Markhof, the Ambassador of the Order in Estonia. The purpose of the meeting was to find and map common cooperation opportunities especially in countries where the Order of Malta and the ESTDEV are active.
ESTDEV is a state foundation established to advance the international development cooperation objectives of the Estonian Government. In alignment with Estonia’s foreign policy, ESTDEV focuses on strategic partnerships to reduce poverty, enhance
democratic governance, promote digital development, strengthen education, and stimulate economic innovation in partner countries. The overarching vision of Estonian development cooperation is to ensure peace and stability, contribute to the eradication of poverty, and help attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by sharing its reform experience with transition countries. The focus areas for ESTDEV are EU Eastern Neighbourhood (Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Moldova) and Africa (Kenya, Namibia, Botswana, Uganda).
HealthEst Agency OÜ is an Estonian healthcare institution that provides family medicine and school health services throughout the country. They have ten family medicine centers in different regions in Estonia. The company has also developed various e-health solutions used in Estonia.
During his visit, Graziani also met with Piet Boerefijn, the founder and CEO of the Estonian Food Bank (Toidupank). The meeting served as an opportunity to exchange insights on effective food aid distribution, volunteer coordination, and the challenges of addressing food insecurity in Estonia. Both sides expressed a strong willingness to continue collaboration, particularly in light of the growing demand for social support across vulnerable populations.
Graziani also paid a visit to a local elderly care facility Vilmsi Pansionaat supported by the Order of Malta. He spent time engaging with the residents and staff, gaining firsthand understanding of the needs of Estonia’s aging population. The visit underscored the Order’s commitment to dignified care for the elderly and the importance of personal interaction in fostering compassion and inclusion.
The visit concluded with a dinner hosted in honor of Graziani, attended by board members and volunteers of the Order of Malta Estonia. The gathering provided an opportunity for informal dialogue and appreciation of the dedicated work carried out by local members and volunteers of the Order. Graziani expressed his gratitude for their unwavering service and reaffirmed the central role of volunteers in the Order’s mission.
Throughout the visit, Graziani emphasized the Order of Malta’s dedication to building strong local partnerships and continuing its mission of serving those in need through practical action and a spirit of solidarity.
