AfDB Approves $48.8 M Crisis Package to Rebuild Lives and Infrastructure in Eastern DR Congo

Eastern DRC remains one of the world’s most fragile and conflict-affected regions, with millions displaced and access to essential services severely disrupted.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $48.8 million emergency financing package to support communities devastated by ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), marking a significant intervention aimed at restoring basic services, rebuilding livelihoods, and strengthening long-term resilience.

The funding, delivered under the Crisis Response Project in Support of Affected Populations in Eastern DRC (PRECAPE), combines loans and grants from multiple AfDB windows, reflecting the urgency and scale of humanitarian and development needs in the region.

A Multi-Layered Response to a Protracted Crisis

Eastern DRC remains one of the world's most fragile and conflict-affected regions, with millions displaced and access to essential services severely disrupted. The AfDB's intervention is designed not only to address immediate humanitarian needs but also to lay the foundation for sustainable recovery and peacebuilding.

"The project will provide a targeted response to urgent needs whilst laying the groundwork for sustainable solutions to fragility," said Mohamed Chérif, AfDB Deputy Director General for Central Africa.

The financing package includes:

• $33.91 million loan

• $4.95 million grant from the Transition Support Facility

• $9.97 million grant from the African Development Fund

Rebuilding Essential Infrastructure

A core component of the project focuses on rehabilitating and expanding climate-resilient social infrastructure, aimed at restoring access to critical services that have been severely degraded by conflict.

Planned investments include:

• Rehabilitation of 7 schools and 7 health facilities

• Upgrading 5 vocational training centres

• Development of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems

• Construction of market infrastructure to support local economies

These interventions are expected to significantly improve access to education, healthcare, and clean water—services that are essential for stabilising communities and preventing further displacement.

Investing in Youth and Women

Recognising the central role of human capital in recovery, the project places strong emphasis on skills development and economic inclusion, particularly for young people and women.

Key initiatives include:

• Vocational training for 1,500 youth in high-demand sectors

• Entrepreneurship and financial literacy programmes for 2,000 youth and women

• Psychosocial and medical support for 4,500 survivors of gender-based violence

These measures aim to address both economic marginalisation and the social impacts of conflict, helping vulnerable groups rebuild their lives and contribute to local economies.

Supporting Governance and Innovation

Beyond infrastructure and social services, the project will strengthen institutional capacity by supporting the government's Delivery Unit within the Prime Minister's Office, enhancing coordination and monitoring of the national Resilience Compact.

A notable innovation within the project is its support for the Natural Resources Tokenisation initiative, which seeks to leverage digital tools to unlock value from community assets such as gold and carbon credits.

Through the AXIS programme, the initiative aims to:

• Improve transparency and value capture in natural resource management

• Mobilise new sources of financing

• Empower local communities economically

Targeting High-Impact Regions

The project will be implemented in some of the most affected areas:

• Uvira (South Kivu)

• Beni and Walikale (North Kivu)

These regions have experienced prolonged violence, displacement, and economic disruption, making them priority zones for recovery efforts.

Reaching Over 800,000 People

PRECAPE is expected to directly benefit more than 800,000 people, including internally displaced persons and host communities, by improving access to essential services and economic opportunities.

A Step Toward Stability and Resilience

As conflict continues to strain eastern DRC, the AfDB's intervention highlights the importance of integrated crisis response strategies that combine humanitarian relief with long-term development planning.

By linking infrastructure, human capital, governance, and innovation, the project aims to:

• Reduce vulnerability and marginalisation

• Strengthen community resilience

• Support peacebuilding and social cohesion

• Enable sustainable economic recovery

Looking Ahead

With fragile regions increasingly requiring coordinated and multi-dimensional responses, the success of PRECAPE could serve as a model for future interventions in conflict-affected settings.

As international attention remains focused on the humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC, initiatives like this underscore a broader shift—from emergency response alone to resilience-building and inclusive development as the foundation for lasting peace.