The French Development Agency (AFD) is strengthening its commitment to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with a spectacular increase in its overall envelope. Over the last ten years, AFD funding for the DRC has increased from 106.4 million euros in 2013 to 370 million euros in 2023, an increase of more than 200%.
These encouraging figures were revealed during the opening of the workshop on the review of the AFD portfolio in the DRC, by the Deputy Minister of Finance, O’Neige N’Sele. She stressed that the first partnership agreements between France and the DRC date back to 1976, and since then, cooperation between the two countries has continued to strengthen.
Initially focused on four key sectors – education, vocational training, water and sanitation, as well as administrative and financial governance – AFD’s intervention in the DRC has expanded over time. In 2022, five new sectors will be added, such as environment, gender, health, digital and agriculture. And in 2023, four other sectors were included: energy, planning and urban development, higher education, sports and culture.
This diversification of sectors of intervention demonstrates a positive and promising dynamic. The Deputy Minister of Finance also welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the DRC and France, which provides for a commitment of 500 million euros over the period 2022-2025. This agreement marks the resumption of AFD’s sovereign lending activity, thanks to the economic reforms implemented by the Congolese government within the framework of the IMF’s Extended Credit Facility.
Despite these significant advances, O’Neige N’Sele expressed his regret over the optimal use of available funding. She stressed that the DRC faces major and urgent development needs, which are not all met. To remedy this situation, the government organized a consultation meeting with donors in order to optimize the quality of projects and programs and improve their implementation.
This workshop on the review of AFD’s performance in the DRC, organized by the Project and Program Monitoring Unit of the Ministry of Finance, aims to guarantee optimal allocation and management of financial resources for the economic and social development of the country. .
In conclusion, the growth of the AFD envelope for the DRC demonstrates France’s commitment to the development of the country. However, it is necessary to ensure optimal use of this funding to meet the crucial development needs of the DRC.