The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved $48.8 million in financing for a crisis response project to support populations affected by conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The package, under the Crisis Response Project in Support of Affected Populations in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (PRECAPE), comprises a $33.91 million loan and a grant of $4.95 million from the Transition Support Facility, alongside a further $9.97 million grant from the African Development Fund, the Bank Group's concessional window.
"The project will provide a targeted response to urgent needs whilst laying the groundwork for sustainable solutions to fragility and alleviating the suffering of vulnerable populations," said Mohamed Chérif, Deputy Director General of the Bank Group for Central Africa and Country Manager for the DRC. "It aims to restore economic assets that promote the social inclusion of young people and women, reduce economic, social and climate marginalisation, whilst consolidating peace and community resilience as the foundation of sustainable development."
The project will finance the rehabilitation and equipping of climate-resilient social infrastructure to restore basic social services, including health, education and vocational training, water, sanitation and hygiene. The works will cover five vocational training centres, seven schools and seven health facilities, as well as the construction of water and sanitation systems and market infrastructure.
The initiative will also support the government's Delivery Unit, based in the Prime Minister's Office, in strengthening coordination and monitoring the implementation of the country's Resilience Compact. PRECAPE will contribute to the rollout of the Natural Resources Tokenisation initiative by supporting the AXIS programme, which aims to enhance the value of community assets and mobilise financing through digital tools, with an initial focus on gold and carbon.
The project includes targeted human capital development measures: providing vocational training leading to qualifications in high-demand sectors for 1,500 young people; strengthening entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy for 2,000 young people and women; and delivering psychosocial and medical support for 4,500 survivors of gender-based violence.
PRECAPE will be implemented in Uvira, South Kivu, and in Beni and Walikale, North Kivu. It is expected to benefit more than 800,000 people, including internally displaced persons and host communities, by improving access to quality social services.
