Guylain Nymbo and Doudou Fwamba, respectively Deputy Prime Minister for Planning and Minister of Finance of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recently met with a UNDP team in New York, during the UN General Assembly. The UNDP team was led by its Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa.

Participants mostly focused on the Local Development Plan for 145 territories (PDL 145T). "The Congolese government expressed its wish to accelerate the remaining work before the end of the year and launch the second phase, focusing on agricultural feeder roads. The UNDP has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the DRC in this ambitious project aimed at improving the living conditions of local populations," reported the Ministry of Planning. The second phase of the project is scheduled to begin in early 2025.

Initiated by President Félix Tshisekedi, the PDL 145T aims to develop the DRC’s 145 closed localities that lack basic infrastructure. The UNDP oversees the project’s implementation in 54 territories. Implementation in the remaining territories is steered by the Cellule d'exécution des financements en faveur des États fragiles (CFEF) and the Bureau central de coordination (BCeCO)(43 and 48 territories respectively).

As of June 2024, 631 infrastructure projects were either under construction or nearing completion. These include schools—some equipped with solar kits—and health centers in remote locations. The UNDP has also helped contract 20 organizations (18 companies and 2 NGOs) for nearly $168.2 million worth of work, creating 35,000 jobs across nine provinces, including over 10,000 for women.

An important contribution from the UNDP is a baseline study that outlines the development situation in nine provinces, highlighting areas with significant agricultural and mining potential. This study was conducted by a team led by Samba Daniel Mukoko, now Minister of the Economy.

GAB