Congo and AfDB Endorse Plan to Strengthen Portfolio Performance
The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the African Development Bank Group have jointly adopted a comprehensive plan aimed at improving the performance of the Bank’s project portfolio in the country. The decision follows the Country Portfolio Performance Review, held from 17–20 November in Kinshasa.
The newly agreed plan places strong emphasis on enhancing project ownership within sector ministries, accelerating the delivery of ongoing operations, and improving coordination in investment programming. It further introduces digital tools for implementation and reporting, targeted capacity building for project teams, and strengthened collaboration to reduce delays.
A performance-assessment system for project management units, combined with incentives to speed up execution, has also been established.
Technical teams from government ministries and the Bank’s Project Management Units convened in thematic workshops to assess each project, identify bottlenecks, and recommend concrete corrective measures to boost effectiveness.
Deputy Finance Minister Yamba Kazadi Gracia underscored the importance of ensuring that Bank-funded projects deliver tangible results.
“Projects financed by the African Development Bank must perform well if we are to meet the legitimate expectations of our people,” she said. “Every dollar unused represents a school not built, a road not rehabilitated, or a health centre not equipped. We have a moral and political duty to turn this funding into real development outcomes.”
The Bank Group’s Deputy Director General for Central Africa, Mohamed Chérif, commended the open and constructive dialogue with Congolese authorities, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to supporting national priorities.
“This meeting reflects our shared commitment to the country’s development vision,” he said. “We must continue to work closely to improve the effectiveness of our projects and enhance their impact on the well-being of the Congolese people.”
Country portfolio reviews are key mechanisms for strengthening strategic dialogue between the African Development Bank Group and partner countries.
The Bank’s active portfolio in the DRC exceeds $1.6 billion, covering sectors such as agriculture, transport, energy, water and sanitation, governance, human capital development, and digital transformation. It remains one of the Bank’s largest portfolios in Central Africa in terms of commitments.
