The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Path to Development: from Paradoxes to Promises

A visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo is always eye-opening: a land of tremendous potential where the warmth and ingenuity of its people stand out against the backdrop of the chaotic streets of Kinshasa and other urban areas. The sheer magnitude of the country —as large as Western Europe—coupled with its rapidly expanding population and abundant natural resources makes DRC a land of possibilities, but only if it takes bold moves.

The country struggles with very high levels of poverty and inequity, and the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC keeps devastating lives and wreaking havoc.

It is this stark contrast that makes the DRC so complex—a country where extraordinary possibilities are inexorably intertwined with enormous challenges.

From Kinshasa to Goma, here are a few insights I gathered along the way.?

A reform agenda ?

This was my first visit to Kinshasa since 2018, and one thing seemed clear: the Democratic Republic of Congo is pursuing a path of much-needed reforms aimed at promoting macroeconomic stability with support from the World Bank and the IMF, strengthening the business environment to attract private investment and enhancing governance in public administration and state-owned enterprises. In all my meetings with the authorities, including President Tshisekedi, I heard a commitment to making progress amidst enormous challenges.

But with a war in eastern DRC, a poverty rate of 70%, and youth unemployment (or underemployment) rampant, the biggest question remains:

How can DRC achieve growth that delivers economic transformation and brings jobs, incomes, infrastructure services, and better lives for its people?

People first

When DRC’s greatest asset should undeniably be its people, economic and social development has failed to benefit and keep pace with population growth. Yet, in Kinshasa, I saw the difference investing in people makes. Not long ago, primary education wasn’t free in the DRC, but thanks to the government’s introduction of the free primary education policy, parents no longer have to pay to send their kids to primary school.

I had the chance to visit the Ngwanza Primary School in Kinshasa and let me tell you, the kids were beaming with enthusiasm and dreams as big as the Congo River!

This policy has really boosted enrollment, especially for girls. But here’s the kicker: there’s a need for more teachers across the country. And better infrastructure—schools need electricity and water for kids to thrive. I would also like to see free meals so we can also help support nutrition and better health.

In Kinshasa, less than half of the population has access to drinkable water, but my visit to a water treatment facility financed by the World Bank proved that progress is possible.? Since its inauguration, nearly 2 million people have gained access to clean water—a resource that should be a given in one of the world's most water-rich nations.

The fight against gender-based violence

One of the most poignant moments of my trip was visiting Heal Africa, a hospital in Goma, in the eastern part of the country, where survivors of gender-based violence receive free medical care, psychosocial services, and occupational skills training. I hurt with the many women I met and was humbled by the hospital staff who do such important work.

In this region, rape has become a weapon of mass destruction. Witnessing the courage and dignity of the survivors – and the dedication of those helping them – was both a ray of hope and a stark reminder of the urgency of ending such violence.? In Goma, I was also privileged enough to meet one of the most passionate advocates against this scourge, Nobel Peace Prize Winner Dr. Denis Mukwege (stay tuned as he will be my guest in an upcoming episode of Talking Development). His tireless efforts and inspiring fight against gender-based violence underscore the critical need for continued support and action.

Powering DRC

When you visit Goma, you can't help but be impressed by the resourcefulness of the entrepreneurs who come up with solutions to the most difficult challenges. Take Nuru, for example, which means light in Swahili, a solar energy company backed by the World Bank Group (IFC and MIGA). The company has installed a 1.3 MW hybrid solar site in Goma, the largest off-grid mini-grid in Sub-Saharan Africa, bringing electricity to more than 5,000 households and businesses. Its mission? “To provide 10 million Congolese people with world-class power by 2030.” In a country where barely 21 percent of the people have access to electricity, that’s a real game changer!

And DRC also has vast hydropower resources that hold the potential to dramatically transform the country's economic future. In Kinshasa, I engaged in extensive discussions with the Minister of Energy and his team about the national Energy Compact that the government is preparing for the Democratic Republic of Congo in the context of Mission 300 – our ambitious initiative to connect 300 million people across the continent to electricity by 2030. The Compact, which lays out a plan to triple electricity access through strategic private-public investments and essential sector reforms, will be discussed at the Heads of State Summit we are organizing with the African Development Bank and the Government of Tanzania at the end of January.

People and Forests

Before heading back to Washington, D.C., I was fortunate to participate in the launch of a Forest and Savannah Restoration Program financed by the World Bank. In the home of one of the world’s largest rainforests, this was no small treat. Congolese forests are powerful actors in the fight against climate change storing the equivalent of 85 billion tons of CO2, which is equal to about 3 years of global energy emissions. So, we need to protect the forests but also the livelihoods of the people who rely on them.

As I left, I remembered the words of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, the late Wangari Maathai:

“When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and seeds of hope. We also secure the future for our children.”