Fatshimetrie, the leading magazine on agricultural development, recently organized a key workshop in Kinshasa on the annual review of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) portfolio in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the year 2024. The objective of this workshop was to assess the progress of the country’s strategic programs financed by IFAD, as well as to discuss measures to be taken to improve investment performance.
During this crucial event, representatives of the three main IFAD projects in the DRC presented their progress. Among these is the Pasa-NK project, focused on the production of maize, rice, potatoes and Arabica coffee in the province of North Kivu. Also on the agenda, the PADRIR which aims to promote the transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture in several provinces of the country, as well as the Avenir project which contributes to the reduction of rural poverty and the improvement of the nutrition of rural populations around Kinshasa.
The discussions highlighted IFAD’s overall satisfaction with the results achieved by these projects on the ground, while highlighting challenges. It was noted that although the projects have ambitious plans, their implementation rate still appears low. Waly Diouf, IFAD Country Representative in the DRC, stressed the need to adjust these plans to make them more feasible. He also highlighted the need to accelerate the procurement process to ensure more efficient project implementation.
Furthermore, IFAD welcomed the implementation of the recommendations from the previous year’s annual review, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to improving the indicators planned under IFAD-supported programmes. Measures have been taken to strengthen the teams’ capacities in procurement and financial management to overcome the challenges encountered.
In conclusion, the rich discussions between the experts made it possible to formulate several recommendations to ensure the success of the activities planned for 2025. These include the need to mobilize co-financing, launch surveys integrating the desired effects, develop precise terms of reference and assess the technical and financial capacities of the teams concerned.
IFAD in the DRC is thus continuing its commitment to agricultural and rural development, while seeking to improve its practices for greater efficiency and sustainable results.