Fatshimetrie, October 13, 2024 – A crucial meeting was held this Sunday in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, bringing together the governors of the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu as well as the World Bank’s Director of Operations. At the heart of this meeting, the urgency of the issues affecting these regions was discussed, highlighting the major challenges they face.
Ms. Anna Bjerde, World Bank Director of Operations, underlined the importance of this meeting by saying: “It is an honor to meet these two authorities from the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, with the entire World Bank delegation, to listen to them and find out what their problems are, the real problems of the population that the provinces are facing.” She highlighted the crucial issues such as insecurity, conflicts, poverty, natural disasters, basic social services and the lack of infrastructure, which impact the daily lives of the inhabitants of these provinces.
The Director affirmed that the World Bank is committed to working with the provinces to find sustainable solutions and to supporting programs aimed at improving the living conditions of local populations. She also stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to address the complex challenges facing North and South Kivu.
The governors of the two provinces expressed their desire to see the acceleration of World Bank-financed programs and projects, and stressed the need for new resources to implement stabilization, security, education, and community recovery initiatives. They welcomed the World Bank’s commitment to strengthening the development plan and supporting efforts to improve local infrastructure and capacities.
This meeting marked an important step towards enhanced collaboration between the World Bank and the provinces of North and South Kivu, aimed at addressing the multiple challenges facing these regions. She also stressed the importance of regular monitoring and continued commitment to ensure the success of projects funded by the Breton Wood institution.
Ultimately, this meeting paved the way for fruitful cooperation between local authorities and the World Bank to improve the living conditions of the populations of North and South Kivu, and to promote the sustainable development of these regions facing many challenges.