DRC: AfDB-FAO talks on implementation of project in Idiofa

Kinshasa, October 1^st, 2026 (CPA).- The implementation of the project entitled “Leveraging Digital Systems for Emergency Preparedness and Food Crisis Response” (EmergenSys) in Idiofa, Kwilu Province, in southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo, was at the center of AfDB-FAO discussions held Thursday in Kinshasa, CPA observed. “The supervision mission of the African Development Bank (AfDB) is a valuable opportunity to take stock of the progress made, assess the results achieved so far, jointly identify the remaining challenges and examine the project’s prospects,” said Judicaël Pazou, Operations Officer, speaking on behalf of the Deputy Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the DRC. “It will also enable us to strengthen our dialogue and cooperation to ensure that the digital tools put in place effectively contribute to improving emergency preparedness and food crisis response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” he said. Mr. Pazou said on the occasion that the EmergenSys project, funded by the AfDB and implemented by the FAO, is part of an ambitious vision to put digital innovations at the service of crisis prevention and strengthening the resilience of food systems. It responds to an increasingly pressing need for reliable, up-to-date and easily accessible information to anticipate crises, guide decision-making and facilitate a rapid response tailored to the needs of populations. He said that by combining digital early-warning tools with the digitalization of the seed system, EmergenSys aims to strengthen the capacity of governments, technical institutions and producers to detect signs of crisis, plan interventions and protect the livelihoods of the most vulnerable communities. In the DRC, implementation of the project has required significant adaptive capacity. While pilot activities were initially scheduled to be deployed in the Ruzizi Plain in South Kivu, the deterioration of the security situation led to their relocation to Idiofa Territory, in Kwilu Province. This strategic reorientation, carried out in close consultation with the partners concerned, made it possible to ensure the continuity of the project while taking into account the operational realities on the ground.