Kinshasa, April 21st, 2026 (CPA).- A memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening the dynamics of rural development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was signed on Tuesday during a ceremony in Kinshasa between the Minister in charge of Rural Development and the Director General of the Agency for the Steering, Coordination and Monitoring of Collaboration Agreements (APCSC). “This agreement we have just signed will enable us to improve the living conditions of our rural populations by providing water, building rural roads and offering electricity. We call on the APCSC to steer the program and attract investors to rural areas of the country,” said Grégoire Mutshail, Minister of State in charge of Rural Development.
This partnership is part of the Head of State’s strategic vision aimed at sustainably improving living conditions and fostering inclusive growth. The memorandum comes at a time marked by a significant deficit in essential infrastructure. Access to drinking water and electricity remains particularly low in rural areas, where the majority of the population lives. In response to these challenges, the parties intend to promote structuring projects in key sectors such as basic infrastructure, agriculture, feeder roads and spatial planning.
Clear distribution of roles and commitments
The agreement establishes a precise framework for collaboration between the two institutions. The Ministry in charge of Rural Development is responsible for identifying priority projects, providing technical data and facilitating administrative procedures. For its part, the APCSC will ensure the mobilization of technical and financial partners, project structuring, as well as coordination and monitoring, with a focus on public-private partnerships. To ensure implementation, a joint technical committee will be established, supported by a roadmap and a monitoring and evaluation mechanism. Concluded for a renewable period of twelve months, the agreement is intended as an operational lever to mobilize investment and drive sustainable transformation of rural areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.