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DFID Democratic Republic of Congo
British Embassy, 83 Avenue Roi
Baudouin, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Tel: +243 81 715 0761 | Fax: +243 81 346 4291
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DRC-enquiries@dfid.gov.uk
Map courtesy of the FCO
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Democratic Republic of Congo
Related pages: Governance |
Growth |
Social Services |
HIV/AIDS | Community Recovery |
Humanitarian Assistance |
Version française
 The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) faces a defining period in
its history. Following a peace agreement in 2003 and historic elections in 2006
this is the best chance DRC has had for decades to escape a cycle of conflict
and suffering and realise its potential.
The UK Department for International
Department (DFID) is committed for the long-term to helping the people and Government
of DRC to sustain peace and reduce poverty. DFID support to DRC has increased
rapidly in recent years and DFID is now the second largest bilateral donor.
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The Democratic Republic of Congo: background
Located
in central Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) borders nine countries
with a territory the size of western Europe. DRC is home to almost half of all
Africa’s forests as well as extraordinary mineral wealth – diamonds, gold,
copper, cobalt – that could make DRC the most prosperous country in Africa. The
potential is breathtaking. But the development challenges are huge.
DRC facts and figures |
Population (approx) |
60 million |
Population under 18 years old |
50% |
Size (km2) |
2.3 million |
Official language |
French |
GDP per capita (2006) |
£70 |
Life expectancy |
43 years |
Number of children who die before their fifth birthday |
20% |
Population with access to clean water |
49% |
Number of people displaced because of conflict |
1.1 million |
Paved roads in DRC |
600km |
Average number of visits to health centre per person |
Once every 7 years |
DRC is one of the poorest countries in the world. Its approximately 60
million people have suffered from decades of misrule and two devastating civil
wars: it is estimated that more than 4 million people have died as a result of
fighting since 1998. This has destroyed DRC’s economy, social fabric, government
capacity and infrastructure. Most Congolese are desperately poor, living in
extreme poverty on less than $1 a day. Human rights abuses occur on a massive
scale with almost unimaginable levels of sexual violence against women and
children. There are over 1.1 million internally displaced people in eastern DRC
requiring humanitarian assistance.
 There is cause for hope. The civil war was finally ended with a peace
agreement in 2003 followed by the first democratic elections in 40 years in
2006. Huge numbers of Congolese turned out to vote, electing Joseph Kabila as
President and showing their desire for a better, peaceful future. There is still
much more to be done to consolidate peace throughout the country and to end the
continuing conflict in eastern DRC, but the prospects for making real progress
in reducing poverty are better than they have been in decades.
Chronology of key events in the history of DRC.
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DFID in the Democratic Republic of Congo
 The
UK Government is committed to helping the people and government of DRC
sustain peace and reduce poverty. DFID works closely with the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the
Ministry of Defence towards the achievement of
this goal in DRC.
In 2003 DFID took the decision to establish a major bilateral development
programme in DRC and we have increased our support to DRC significantly over the
last few years. In 2006 the UK was the largest bilateral donor to DRC’s first
democratic elections in 40 years and we are currently the second largest
bilateral donor contributing around £70 million per year. DFID has 38 staff
working in DRC.
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DFID’s has three strategic objectives in DRC:
Building a capable and accountable state; Delivering a peace dividend for poor people; Reducing remaining violent conflict and its impact.
The
diagram above shows the three strategic objectives in DRC as mentioned above.
(With Sustaining peace and reducing poverty in the centre circle and the 3
strategies circling around the outside.)
Across its work DFID focuses on providing immediate benefits and meeting
emergency humanitarian needs, combined with major long-term development
programmes to transform the future for the Congolese. Much of our work is based
in rural and war affected areas of DRC where poverty levels are higher. Our
programmes are designed to make sure that vulnerable or marginalised groups,
such as women and children or those living with HIV/AIDS, are not excluded.
The major donors in DRC, whose aid represents 85% of development assistance
to the country, have developed a Common Assistance Framework (CAF). This joint
strategy aims to coordinate donor support for the implementation of the DRC
Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) to which DFID’s work
contributes.
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Links
Last updated: 12 May 2008
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