• Donors pledge over $200 million for DR Congo census
• World Bank, AfDB consider major funding and capacity support
• Census aims to update data after 40 years, guide policy

Donors pledged more than $200 million to fund the Democratic Republic of Congo’s second general population and housing census (RGPH2) at a roundtable in Kinshasa on March 23, the presidency said.

World Bank country director Albert Zeufack said the institution is considering providing $100 million, with most of it allocated to the census. “Subject to board approval and the government meeting the conditions required to launch the project, the World Bank plans a $100 million programme, including $75 million for the census,” he said. The remaining funds would go toward strengthening the national statistical system, including institutions, staff training and data systems at both national and provincial levels.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is considering contributing $80 million, divided between $50 million for census operations and $30 million for institutional capacity-building. This component will support the National Statistics Institute (INS) and other agencies involved in planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation. The aim is to ensure the census is carried out efficiently, transparently and sustainably. The proposal is still under review and is expected to be submitted to the AfDB board before the end of the year.

U.N. agencies will support the census in three ways. The U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) and UNICEF have committed $3 million to launch initial activities. Several agencies will also provide technical, logistical and communications support, including coordination with the agricultural census. UNFPA will lead the effort and manage the funds through a basket fund in coordination with the authorities and partners.

What’s at stake

Côte d’Ivoire also pledged in-kind support, including technical assistance and equipment. This includes sharing experience in logistics, administration and financial management, as well as training Congolese technical and cartographic teams. The country also plans to provide 3,000 tablets and related equipment for mapping operations. Cooperation is already underway following a Congolese technical mission to Abidjan from March 9 to 13. A visit led by Planning Minister Guylain Nyembo is scheduled from March 30 to April 5 and is expected to lead to the signing of a framework agreement.

The roundtable comes as the DRC steps up preparations for the census, 42 years after the last one in 1984. Since then, the population has grown from about 30 million to nearly 112.8 million, according to the authorities, highlighting the need for updated data to guide public policy.

In his opening address, President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi stressed the stakes, warning that “continuing to plan without complete, reliable and up-to-date demographic data would amount to governing without visibility and weaken the state’s ability to respond to people’s needs.” He said the census would allow the government to base decisions on reliable data. The state has already contributed $30 million to the basket fund managed by UNFPA.

At a cabinet meeting on January 30, the government described the roundtable as a strategic effort to secure funding for the project, whose total cost is estimated at $192 million. It said financing the project within current budget constraints was difficult, justifying the use of a basket fund to pool contributions from partners. The pledges announced exceed the estimated cost, potentially covering all identified needs. The next step is to turn commitments into action, as UNFPA Acting Executive Director Diene Keita said.

 Boaz Kabeya, with Bankable