Kinshasa, May 27th, 2026 (CPA). – Making Congolese rural communities a genuine driver of economic growth was at the centre of discussions between the Minister of State in charge of Rural Development of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the president of the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD), CPA learnt Wednesday from a press release. “The discussions between the Minister of State in charge of Rural Development, Grégoire Mutshail, and the president of the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) focused on a shared ambition, namely making Congolese rural communities a true engine of economic growth,” the statement read. According to the source, the strategic meeting marked a major step forward between the minister and officials of the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD), within the framework of his official mission to Beijing. Impressed by the DRC’s potential, the CFRD expressed its willingness to establish a sustainable partnership focused on village modernization and agricultural sector development. Recognized for its 36 years of experience in poverty reduction and the improvement of living conditions for rural populations in China, the CFRD ranks among the Chinese institutions most committed to international solidarity. Its activities notably cover access to drinking water, education, family health and food security. “The approach promoted by the Foundation is based on concrete and innovative solutions aimed at sustainably transforming Congolese rural communities,” the source added. The modernization of rural housing is among the planned projects. It provides for the grouping of family lands in order to build modern housing capable of generating rental income for local communities.
The Foundation also intends to support the transition from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture by facilitating productivity and market access for harvests. Particular emphasis will also be placed on training and empowering agricultural cooperatives in order to strengthen local management and the entrepreneurial capacities of rural populations. Furthermore, the CFRD plans to improve access to school materials in remote areas through an efficient logistics system, with the aim of guaranteeing quality education for children in rural communities. Foundation officials announced an upcoming mission to the DRC. “This visit will make it possible to assess realities on the ground and identify priority needs in order to effectively adapt future cooperation projects,” the source concluded. ACP/