Gemena, 13 August 2024 – The 145 Territories Development Project (PDL-145T) in Gemena territory, Sud-Ubangi in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is the focus of much criticism and concern. Local elected official Alexis Lenga recently stated at a press briefing that the project’s achievements were assessed at only 30%, highlighting an alarming observation regarding the progress of the work and the satisfaction of the needs of the communities.
At the heart of this mixed assessment is the issue of essential infrastructure. While the project aimed to provide each territory with 20 boreholes, quality health infrastructure, roads and schools in good condition, the reality on the ground seems far from these objectives. In Gemena, much remains to be done to meet the needs of the population, with dilapidated schools, a lack of adequate health infrastructure and roads in poor condition.
This situation raises questions about the effectiveness and relevance of the PDL-145T. It is clear that this project, launched by the Congolese government with the support of the Head of State, had the ambition to catalyze development at the grassroots, starting from the territories and reaching the entire country. However, the gaps observed in Gemena highlight the challenges and obstacles that hinder the full implementation of this vision.
It is imperative that corrective measures are taken to strengthen and accelerate the progress of the project in the Gemena territory. This will require a careful assessment of local needs, better coordination of the actors involved and a strengthening of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure that the resources allocated actually benefit the population.
Last April, a delegation visited several project sites in Gemena, highlighting the challenges encountered and the gaps to be filled. It is now crucial that the recommendations resulting from this visit are implemented in an efficient and transparent manner, in order to allow for more effective management of funds and faster achievement of the set objectives.
In conclusion, Alexis Lenga’s assessment of the progress of the 145 territories development project in Gemena highlights the need for urgent action to meet the needs of local populations and ensure the success of this essential initiative for the development of the region. The mobilization of all stakeholders, including local authorities, civil society and donors, will be essential to transform this vision into reality and offer a better future to the inhabitants of Gemena and the entire territory of Sud-Ubangi.