USAID/ DR Congo - Success Stories

USAID in Africa: Success Stories: DR Congo

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›Setting DRC Economic Development Policies Right ›A Draft Constitution for the DRC ›Condom Distribution Setting DRC Economic Development Policies Right A major focal point of the U.S. Government's policy reform agenda in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the liberalization of Congo's heavily state-controlled economy. The USAID mission to the Congo has been the paramount leader among the donor community in the reform dialogue, relentlessly pushing for greater openness and transparency in all sectors of DRC's economy. USAID/DRC lobbied for and obtained host government support for an open forum discussion on economic liberalization, privatization, and the creation of public-private partnerships (PPPs) to rejuvenate Congo's failing economy. In October of 2000, President Laurent Kabila's administration, after some highly effective behind-the-scenes encouragement from the mission, agreed to sponsor the DRC's first real public dialogue on economic liberalization through a PPP Forum. Over 200 participants from government and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) attended. The forum dialogue was frank and transparent, with the private sector participants and the DRC government agreeing to a set of economic policy reform recommendations that would disengage the government production of goods and services. The results of the forum contributed in very large part to engaging the World Bank and the IMF in public sector reform as part of their country programs. It also served to focus attention to the energy sector, potentially the DRC's largest source of revenue, and mobilize massive international support for reforms of this critical sector. This remarkable policy objective success was achieved with only $US100,000 local currency investment. [an error occurred while processing this directive] Draft Constitution for the DRC A network of civil society partners, led by the Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Church in the DRC, the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), and the Law Group (the two USAID financed American NGOs working with civil society in the DRC), developed a draft constitution. This document will be a focal point for the Inter-Congolese Dialogue (ICD) and an important step for reconciliation and peace in the DRC. The IFES Rapid Response Team worked with civil society leaders to draft the constitution based on several previous DRC constitutions and other examples. The Law Group, working through the Justice and Peace Commission, then held a workshop with wide civil society representation to reach consensus and finalize the draft constitution. The U.S. NGOs, in collaboration with other donors, then financed the printing of the document for wide distribution. While there is no guarantee as to what the ICD decides will be the DRC's form of government, the draft constitution seems to have gained widespread support. It proposes a semi-presidential republic with a president, parliament, and prime minister. Even the new transitional president, Joseph Kabila, has expressed support for it. If this consensus holds, it will play a major role in assuring the ICD gets off to a positive start as one potentially extremely contentious issue is resolved. [an error occurred while processing this directive] Condom Distribution The AIDSMARK condom social marketing project established the goal of selling 16 million condoms over the three year life-of-project. Condom rationing became necessary to avoid a total depletion of stocks. The project realized a stunning success, distributing 20 million condoms by the end of year two. In fact, AIDSMARK/USAID managed to create demand for condoms in a cultural environment where sexual issues are still considered taboo. There were many factors that facilitated this success, particularly the involvement of the Ministry of Health and the religious community. The government took measures that permitted the sale of condoms not only in pharmacies but also in health centers, hotels, bars, and stores and through street vendors. The minister of health is currently very active in support of condom promotion and has facilitated promotion activities with all other ministries. He also regularly attends and leads public ceremonies organized by the AIDSMARK/USAID project. Religious and cultural barriers and social stigmas associated with condom purchase did not hinder wholesaler and retailer willingness to sell condoms or consumer willingness to buy condoms. Religious leaders do not openly talk about condoms but neither do they discourage the use of condoms. This is one of the reasons that the AIDSMARK/USAID project has access to all groups of the population in need of condoms. The runaway success of this effort has created a problem of supply. To maintain the integrity of the program, condom sales have been effectively rationed. In addition to limiting distribution, the basic focus of the AIDMARK project was changed to focus exclusively on high-risk groups. This revised focus has been expanded geographically beyond Kinshasa to include the southern industrial city of Lubumbashi and the eastern city of Bukavu. The successful implementation of high-risk group targeting is best reflected in Lubumbashi where exclusively members of the police force and commercial sex workers conduct condom sales. In Kinshasa commercial sex workers and their clients have been successfully targeted in the Matonge section of the city where popular nightlife businesses are located. Behavior change and condom social marketing activities are being conducted in the main military camp. In each of the areas, the new strategy calls for the mapping and targeting of commercial sex hotels, bars, truck stops, and other high-risk interaction points. [an error occurred while processing this directive] More about USAID/ DR Congo ›Country Information ›FY 2002 Budget Justification USAID/ AFR Success Stories skip redundant nav ›Benin ›DR Congo ›Eritrea ›Ethiopia ›Ghana ›Guinea ›Kenya ›Liberia ›Madagascar ›Malawi ›Mali ›Namibia ›Rwanda ›Senegal ›Somlia ›South Africa ›Sudan ›Tanzania ›Uganda ›Zambia ›Zimbabwe ›RCSA ›REDSO/ESA

Updated: Wednesday, January 9, 2002

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