The World Bank has suspended disbursements for three projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the dissolution of the Fonds Social de la République Démocratique du Congo (FSRDC). The Presidency of the Republic has, however, dispelled any misunderstanding on the matter. Indeed, the World Bank and the Congolese government converged their views on the restructuring of the FSRDC during a meeting organized in Kinshasa on May 15. According to the Chief of Staff of the Head of State, Guylain Nyembo, the two parties will jointly establish the terms of the transitional period to calmly continue the operations in progress.
The World Bank finances three development projects in the DRC through the FSRDC; DRC Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response Project, Eastern DRC Recovery Project and Eastern DRC Stabilization and Recovery. Thus, after the dissolution of the FSRDC, disbursements for the three projects have been suspended while the transition arrangements are identified in accordance with the communiqué issued by the World Bank.
The implementation of this restructuring was guided by the sole concern for compliance of the legal entity responsible for the implementation of these projects with the constitution and the laws of the Republic. According to Guylain Nyembo, the main mission of the restructuring is to improve the living conditions of the Congolese population. The Congolese party reassured the World Bank on the legal motivations of this reform initiated since 2008.
However, this situation poses challenges for the beneficiaries of the project, and it is appropriate that the World Bank and the Congolese authorities work together to identify the transition agreements necessary for the implementation of these three projects.
Clearly, the current situation requires a continuous confrontation between the parties concerned to find adequate solutions to the logistical and security challenges relating to the implementation of development projects in the DRC.