By Ayomide Otitoju
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo — Following a joint review, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) have approved a comprehensive plan to enhance the performance of the Bank’s project portfolio in the country. The Country Portfolio Performance Review took place from 17 to 20 November in Kinshasa.
The plan focuses on increasing project ownership by sector ministries, supporting ongoing operations to completion, and improving coordination in investment programming. Key measures include digitising implementation and reporting processes, strengthening capacity of project teams, reducing lead times, and introducing a performance assessment system for project management units with incentives to accelerate execution and maximize impact.
During the three-day review, government technical teams, supervised by the Ministry of Finance’s Project and Programme Monitoring Unit, collaborated with the AfDB’s Project Management Units in thematic workshops. Each project was assessed in detail, challenges identified, and corrective actions proposed to ensure effective implementation.
“It is essential that projects financed by the African Development Bank perform well if we are to meet the legitimate expectations of our people,” said DRC Deputy Finance Minister Yamba Kazadi Gracia. “Every dollar unused represents a school not built, a road not rehabilitated, a health centre not equipped. We have a moral and political duty to transform this funding into tangible results.”
AfDB Deputy Director General for Central Africa, Mohamed Chérif, praised the constructive dialogue with Congolese authorities, reaffirming the Bank’s commitment to supporting the country’s national priorities. “This meeting testifies to our shared commitment to the national vision,” he said. “We must work closely to improve the effectiveness of our projects and enhance their impact on the development and well-being of the Congolese people.”
The AfDB’s active portfolio in the DRC currently exceeds $1.6 billion, covering agriculture, transport, energy, water and sanitation, governance, human capital, and digital sectors. It is one of the Bank Group’s largest portfolios in Central Africa, underscoring its strategic importance in the region.
