The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the United States signed a framework agreement on health cooperation on Feb. 26 in Kinshasa, laying the groundwork for a strengthened strategic partnership in public health for 2026-2030.

The programme is backed by $1.2 billion, including $900 million from the United States and $300 million to be phased in by the Congolese government. According to a government statement issued on Feb. 26, 2026, the goal is to strengthen the national health system sustainably and improve access to care.

The agreement includes expanded support for the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, as well as maternal and child health. It also includes strengthening epidemiological surveillance, improving preparedness and response to health emergencies, and bolstering the health system at national and local levels. Authorities said the partnership would focus on skills transfer, technical cooperation and institutional capacity building, in line with President Félix Tshisekedi’s emphasis on human capital development.

The deal comes amid major shifts and disruptions in U.S. funding, which has historically financed a large share of humanitarian and health programmes in the DRC. An analysis cited by the scientific journal The Lancet Oncology found that more than 70% of humanitarian activities in the DRC were funded by the United States in 2024, leaving the country highly exposed to funding cuts or freezes.

In the humanitarian sector, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said around 1.5 million people lost access to primary healthcare following reductions in operational capacity. These cuts led to the closure of health facilities, shortages of essential medicines and reduced capacity to prevent and respond to epidemics. The same source reported the closure of more than 1,000 nutrition centres, depriving over 390,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition of treatment.

Authorities have not yet detailed provisions related to data-sharing, regulatory requirements or phased national commitments under the partnership. Several African countries involved in similar agreements have recently raised concerns about such frameworks, citing what they describe as intrusive data-sharing provisions and stricter financial conditions.

Boaz Kabeya