Agriculture
The Commercial Agriculture Project (CAP), an IDA credit of USD$100 million was approved on July 13, 2017 and the financing agreement signed on September 20, 2017 is expected to improve productivity of farmers and market access for producer groups and micro, small and medium enterprises, in selected zones of the territory of the Recipient. It should provide immediate and effective response in the event of an eligible crisis or emergency.
Education
A new Education Sector Support Project (PRAASED) has become effective August 4, 2017. PRAASED is a US$70 million project of which IDA contributes US$30 million. The project aims to improve primary and lower secondary education outcomes and to increase the effectiveness of management systems especially on human resources. Three strategic studies assessing the performance of teacher training institutes, the direction of in-service training, and the institute in charge of pedagogy have already been produced using the project preparation advance. The studies’ results have been disseminated and are currently being discussed with government.
Forestry
The Bank is supporting the government through an $8.6 million Readiness Grant from the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF). Republic of Congo received conditional approval of its $50 million Emission Reductions Program from the FCPF Carbon Fund in June 2017. In December 2017, the Sub-Committee of the Forest Investment Program endorsed Republic of Congo’s Investment Plan of the National REDD+ Strategy, clearing the way for new funding for REDD+ investments. With support from the Central Africa Forest Initiative, the Government is further developing its Investment Plan.
In parallel, the $10 million IDA-funded Forest and Economic Diversification Project is supporting the forest administration, local communities, and indigenous people’s participation. Among others, it has supported the development of simplified management plans on 117 000 ha of community development zones in forest concessions, supported 1195 households through agricultural microprojects, allowed the administration to conduct 4256 additional control missions in forest concessions, provided training to two thirds of Ministry of Forest Economy staff, and reached a total of 13,416 beneficiaries.
$6.5 million in additional financing to the FEDP from the Global Environment Facility has been approved by the World Bank, and is awaiting government effectiveness.
Governance
The Integrated Public-Sector Reform Project (IPSRP), is a US$ 40 million project financed by IDA Credit. The project was approved by the World Bank Group on May 4, 2017 and The Financing Agreement was signed on June 23, 2017. The effectiveness deadline was extended twice and the Project is supposed to be effective on April 29, 2018. The Project’s development objective is to improve public resources management and accountability in the Republic of Congo. The ultimate beneficiaries of the project will be the citizens, who can expect to see improvements in the quality of public service delivery and greater effectiveness across the public administration.
Health
The Bank is implementing a $120 million Health System Strengthening Project II (PDSS-II) of which $100 million is government-financed, $10 million from IDA and $10 million from a multi-donor trust fund for health results innovation. The objective is to increase the utilization and quality of maternal and child health services in targeted areas. A performance-based financing approach is being introduced throughout the entire health system.
ICT (Information and Communications Technology)
The Central African Backbone (CAB), an IDA credit of $15 million, increases geographical reach and usage of regional broadband network services and reduces their prices. In Congo, the project financed the construction of the fiber channel between Pointe-Noire and Mbinda. An additional financing of $5 million has been signed to help finance the costs associated with (i) the installation of the active layer on the fiber optic infrastructure in Congo’s western region; and (ii) the establishment of an ICT incubator and a Digital Development Fund aiming at leveraging private investors willing to promote entrepreneurship in the ICT sector in Congo, create local content, and new job opportunities for youth in the country.
Safety Nets
The Lisungi project, originally a US$ 17 million project co-financed by IDA (US$2 million) and the Republic of Congo (US$ 15 million) aims to establish the key building blocks of a national safety net program and pilot a cash transfer program to improve access to health and education services of the poorest households in participating areas. To date, IDA contribution has increased to US$ 12 million due to an additional finance (to be approved by the parliament), the Agence Française de Dévelopement (AFD) provided an additional finance of Euro eight million for an extension of cash transfers to other areas, and UNICEF has made available CFA 83 million to strengthen the delivery of accompanying measures targeted to beneficiary families with children, to improve communication to the households and to reinforce the capacity of the social workers working at the local Social Assistance Circumscription (CAS) offices.
About 3,455 households and 2,794 elderly people are benefitting from the project which provides quarterly cash transfers conditional on attending school and health clinics visits.
Skills and Employment
The Skills Development for Employability Project (PDCE), originally a US$32 million project co-financed by IDA (US$10 million) and the Republic of Congo (US$22 million), aims at improving job and entrepreneurship skills for vulnerable urban youth. The project is currently being restructured to consider that counterpart funds will not be available. The project will be scaled back and will aim to provide skills and better employment opportunities to 6,000 vulnerable youth.
Statistics and Poverty
The Statistics Capacity Building Project (PSTAT), is a US$ 33 million project jointly financed by IDA (US$ 4.8 million) and the Government (US$ 28.2 million). The project was approved by the World Bank Group on June 9, 2014 and became effective on April 8, 2015.
Urban Development
The Water, Electricity and Urban Development Project (PEEDU), an initial $125.5 million project co-financed with the Congolese government was approved in 2010 and has directly benefitted 1,1 million people, and 32 km of paved roads and 230 km of tertiary and secondary water distribution have been built. An additional financing amounting $150 million approved in 2014 is being implemented to upgrade the electricity distribution network, improve the operational and commercial performance of the national electricity utility and build and reinforce institutional capacity.
Cofinanced by the World Bank, the Urban Development and Poor Neighborhood Upgrading Project became effective on April 7, 2017.
Water and sanitation
The World Bank Group provided technical assistance for conducting an institutional audit, and a National Water and Sanitation Policy (NWSP) was developed which is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Last Updated: Apr 19, 2018
