The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) National Assembly has adopted four bills authorizing more than $625 million in additional financing from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank Group’s concessional lending arm.
The Senate had approved the four financing bills on October 17, clearing the way for the lower house’s vote two days later, according to Radio Okapi.
Although both chambers have voted on the texts, the National Assembly and Senate adopted them in different versions. A joint committee must now harmonize the wording before final adoption and ratification can proceed.
The funds target women-led businesses, education, nutrition, and disaster preparedness. The largest allocations, $200 million each, will support the TRANSFORME and PERSE projects. TRANSFORME seeks to expand opportunities for women entrepreneurs and strengthen micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, helping them formalize, grow, and create jobs.
PERSE will reinforce the education system by backing free primary schooling, easing household education costs, and improving school access in targeted provinces. The financing is an additional allocation to the Emergency Project for Equity and Strengthening of the Education System.
The World Bank describes it as a $300 million program designed to bring business-creation and support services closer to entrepreneurs in the DRC.
A further $75 million is allocated to the Multi-Sectoral Nutrition and Health Project (PMNS). It will support interventions for children under two, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women, addressing malnutrition and maternal-child health needs.
The remaining $150 million is earmarked for REPAIR, a regional program for emergency preparedness and inclusive recovery. It is intended to improve the country’s ability to mobilize resources quickly and respond to disasters and other eligible crises.
