DRC: World Bank to Mobilize Up to $11 Billion for Economic Diversification and Employment
The Democratic Republic of Congo could benefit from financial support of up to 11 billion US dollars from the World Bank under a new strategic partnership. Spread over a ten-year period, this program aims to accelerate economic diversification, improve access to electricity, develop infrastructure and promote the creation of sustainable jobs.
A Partnership Serving Economic Transformation
Through this future Partnership Framework, the World Bank intends to support the priorities of the Congolese government by backing structural reforms capable of stimulating more inclusive growth. The objective is to reduce the economy’s dependence on extractive industries by developing other promising sectors, particularly energy, infrastructure, agriculture and the private sector.
This ten-year program is part of a long-term vision aimed at strengthening the DRC’s economic resilience and improving living conditions through transformative investments.
Access to Electricity as a Priority
One of the main components of this partnership concerns the energy sector. The World Bank will support the DRC in implementing its energy compact, with the ambition of increasing access to electricity to 60% of the population.
Improved electricity supply is an essential lever for supporting industrialization, strengthening business competitiveness and attracting more investment, particularly in the mining and manufacturing sectors.
Job-Creating Investments
Beyond infrastructure financing, the expected investments should generate thousands of quality jobs in public works, energy, services and productive activities. By improving the business climate and basic infrastructure, the government hopes to encourage the emergence of a more dynamic and value-creating private sector.
Discussions between the Congolese authorities and the World Bank will continue in September in order to finalize the outlines of this Partnership Framework. The document will then be submitted to the Board of Directors of the Bretton Woods institution in November 2026. Its approval would pave the way for one of the largest economic development support programs for the DRC in recent years.
MB – Zoom Eco
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