Kinshasa, July 22nd, 2025 (CPA). The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has affirmed its support for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in implementing the Hand in Hand initiative, which was officially launched at a ceremony held on Tuesday in Kinshasa. ‘The FAO supports the Hand in Hand Initiative, which provides a structured framework that enables the country to mobilize resources, build solid investment models and unite efforts around high-potential territories,’ said Ibrahim Abdoul Nasser, FAO Deputy Representative. He clearly defined the organization’s role as providing the latest technical tools, including the HiH geospatial platform; supporting territorial, economic and environmental analyses; supporting the formulation of concrete and bankable investment models; and
above all, creating a neutral and constructive space for dialogue between the government, investors, and technical and financial partners. For Ibrahim Abdoul Nasser, this consultation comes at a pivotal moment, as the government strengthens the coordination of its actions around the agricultural transformation and corridor development program. According to Mr Nasser, to date, more than 60 countries, including 38 in Africa, have joined this initiative. By signing up this year, the DRC has sent a strong signal of political will and commitment to ambitious and sustainable agricultural transformation. The FAO Deputy Representative said that this initiative also prepares the DRC for its participation in regional and global meetings, notably the 2026 international forum, where the country will be able to defend its own territorial agricultural investment plan, a strong commitment of the FAO. He took the opportunity to thank the heads of sectoral ministries, technical and financial partners, representatives of the private sector, civil society and research centers for their active participation. ‘The FAO, through its offices in Kinshasa, Rome and at the regional level, remains fully committed to supporting this dynamic, in close collaboration with all stakeholders,’ assured Mr Ibrahim Nasser.
The objectives presented
The Secretary General in charge of Agriculture, Damas Mamba Mamba, presented the objectives of the initiative, which are to improve food and nutrition security by increasing the quantity, quality, diversity and accessibility of nutritious food, to reduce rural poverty by raising incomes for vulnerable people, and to strengthen the national capacities of countries with low resources or in food crisis. These objectives, said the head of the administration, are perfectly aligned with national priorities, justifying the DRC’s participation in the initiative aimed at boosting all efforts currently underway to meet the challenges of reviving the country’s agricultural sector. Mr Mamba Mamba urged participants to commit resolutely to the implementation of this initiative, which will enable the country to develop an investment plan around which the FAO and other partners will help the country to mobilize structural investments in favor of the rural agricultural sector in the DRC. It should be noted that the Hand in Hand initiative was launched globally in 2019. It has already mobilized US$10 billion and aims to support countries in transforming their agri-food systems by focusing private sector investment efforts on high-potential areas, while addressing the priorities of poverty, hunger and inequality. CPA/