The Democratic Republic of Congo has signed a cooperation agreement with Côte d’Ivoire to support its second General Population and Housing Census (RGPH-2). The deal was signed on April 1, 2026, by the two countries’ planning ministers during an official visit by Congolese Planning Minister Guylain Nyembo.
The agreement follows a donor roundtable held on March 23 in Kinshasa, where more than $200 million in funding was pledged for the census.
Ivorian support, already underway through technical exchanges, is now formalized under the agreement. It will focus on sharing expertise in census organization, as well as logistical, administrative and financial management. The partnership also includes training for Congolese teams. According to Bankable, it will also provide about 3,000 tablets for mapping activities.
The initiative is part of a broader mobilization of technical and financial partners for the RGPH-2. The World Bank is considering total financing of $100 million, including $75 million specifically for the census. The African Development Bank has announced a planned contribution of $80 million.
The United Nations system, notably through the United Nations Population Fund and UNICEF, has mobilized an initial $3 million package. It is also expected to provide technical assistance and financial oversight through a pooled funding mechanism. Congolese authorities have committed $30 million to fund initial operations.
The agreement with Côte d’Ivoire marks a new phase in preparations for the RGPH-2. Kinshasa aims to anchor the project in South-South cooperation while securing broader international support to strengthen the production of demographic data.
Boaz Kabeya
