Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

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Development Challenge The USAID Program Other Program Elements Other Donors Program Data Sheets Summary Tables USAID Search: Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Previous Years' Activities 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999 Last updated: 19     THE DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has suffered from problems of governance and economic decline for three decades. Recent conflicts have left most Congolese in dire need of emergency assistance. In parts of the country where fighting continues, roughly 10% of the population is dying each year (compared to a typical death rate of 2% for developing countries). Even in peaceful areas, child malnutrition rates are alarming. Under five child mortality is extremely high at 207 deaths per 1,000 due to malaria, infectious diseases, acute malnutrition, diarrheal diseases, low routine immunization coverage, and limited access to potable water. The maternal mortality rate, estimated to be 1,837 deaths per 100,000, could be one of the highest in the world. HIV/AIDS prevalence rates continue to climb, with an infection rate of 5.1%. The DRC government allocated approximately 25% of its national budget to education during the 1970s but less than 7% now. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including faith-based organizations, provide the vast majority of social services throughout the country. Congolese and international NGOs regularly compensate for weak governmental structures. After three decades of decline and recent conflicts, per capita GDP has fallen from $250 in 1990 to less than $78 today. The under five mortality rate is 207 deaths per 1,000. A recent study indicates that even in peaceful regions untouched by the present conflict nearly half of the children are malnourished. The World Bank estimates DRC's per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in 1999 at $78. GDP has since declined. External debt at the end of 2000 was $12.9 billion, which, according to the World Bank, equals roughly 280% of GDP and 900% of exports. The accumulated debt and severe economic decline are due to both recent wars and decades of corruption and economic mismanagement. Agricultural production has also suffered, and crop diseases, such as cassava mosaic virus, have exacerbated poverty and hunger. The ongoing war also threatens DRC's vast equatorial forest and other vital natural resources of global importance. The DRC has five natural World Heritage Sites, more than any other country in sub-Saharan Africa. All five, with irreplaceable resources and species such as gorilla and the indigenous chimpanzee, the bonobo, are endangered. U.S. national interests in the DRC are: promotion of a democratic transition and sustainable economic growth in a country key to the stability and prosperity of all of central Africa; conflict reduction in a country where warfare still destabilizes vast regions and leads to a humanitarian emergency affecting millions of Congolese; and amelioration of health and environmental issues of significance to the Congolese, the United States, and the global community. The DRC also is an important ally in central Africa in the war against terrorism, and a location, where, if chaos occurs, terrorist activities could burgeon. THE USAID PROGRAM: FY 2002 Estimate: $22.513 million FY 2003 Request: $21.500 million The Program Data Sheet provided covers the one objective for which USAID is requesting funds. Projects concentrate on improving primary health care services in rural areas, increasing immunization coverage throughout the country, combating HIV/AIDS and malaria, enhancing food security to reduce malnutrition, promoting a peaceful transition process under the Lusaka Cease-Fire Agreement, and protecting the environment. FY 2002 funds will be used to implement ongoing programs to improve health, promote peace, enhance food security, and protect the environment. In addition to continuing on-going malaria core support to strengthening urban malaria control, the Ministry of Health, with the consensus of all shareholders, has revised the malaria treatment policy from chloroquine to fansidar, based on drug sensitivity tests. Implementation of the revised policy will focus on supply, diffusion of guidelines to every health facility, training and community education. The malaria policy will also address intermittent treatment during pregnancy. The mission is receiving infectious diseases funding for surveillance for the first time in FY02. Building on polio surveillance already on-going, there will be a link to integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) and strengthening the system of regional and provincial laboratories. USAID also intends to use FY 2002 funds to carry out new activities in response to a fluid and rapidly changing set of circumstances The specific activities to be funded by FY 2002 and FY 2003 appropriations are described in greater detail in the following Program Data Sheet. USAID plans to use FY 2003 funds to implement and expand ongoing efforts. OTHER PROGRAM ELEMENTS: Under the ESF-funded Great Lakes Justice Initiative (GLJI), USAID supports anti-corruption activities and projects to strengthen the capacity of democracy sector NGOs in coalition building, advocacy, information development and dissemination, human rights education, and justice promotion. Resources from the Displaced Children and Orphans Fund (DCOF) support integrating demobilized child soldiers, street children, and child prostitutes into society. USAID also supports projects to improve girls' access to primary education. USAID humanitarian aid provides life-saving emergency assistance, including health, water, and sanitation services, essential medicines, and food to vulnerable populations. USAID P.L. 480 emergency food assistance provides food to refugees and Congolese in need. OTHER DONORS: The United States is the largest bilateral donor, followed by Belgium. Other major bilateral donors include France and the United Kingdom. Many donors, led by USAID and the European Union, are active in providing emergency humanitarian assistance. Most donor assistance is provided through international NGOs. Multilateral donors, such as the United Nations Development Program and the World Bank, support institutional strengthening of various government ministries, including the Ministry of Finance. The World Bank and the IMF are working closely with the DRC government to improve the performance of the economy and to design strategies to reduce poverty. The World Bank has recently begun a $50 million grant program and has named a Kinshasa-based representative. Many bilateral and multilateral donors, including the United States, support the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, the process by which Congolese leaders are to decide on the new political institutions to reunite their country. They are also preparing to support reintegration of ex-combatants and other actions required to continue a transition to peace. The World Bank has put forward positive proposals to enhance donor coordination. Humanitarian actors, including the United States, have pushed for over two years for the placement of a humanitarian coordinator from the UN system to improve coordination of the myriad humanitarian interventions throughout the DRC. This position remains vacant. Program Data Sheets 660-001  Congolese People are Assisted to Solve National, Provincial and Community Problems through Participatory Processes that involve the Public, Private and Civil Sectors Country Background Information Resources     CIA Factbook Library of Congress National Geographic Country Maps State Dept. Country Information

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