• DRC launches $32M COPIL to oversee two smallholder farming projects in Songololo

• Projects promote deforestation-free agriculture and stabilize smallholder productivity

• Goals include seed distribution, rural enterprise support, and PES incentives

The Ministry of Agriculture launched a Steering Committee (COPIL) on November 7, 2025, to oversee two agricultural projects in Songololo, Kongo Central province, with a combined budget of $32 million. Implemented by the One Ancre Fund and initiated in December 2024 and June 2025, respectively, the projects had not yet entered their operational phase. According to Ministry Secretary-General Damas Mamba, the creation of the committee marks the formal start of implementation.

The COPIL is tasked with supervising and coordinating project execution. Its responsibilities include approving annual work plans and budgets, validating progress and financial reports, and reviewing recommendations from project monitoring committees. The committee will also address operational challenges, assess institutional arrangements, and approve any necessary budget adjustments in line with the procedures of the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) and the National REDD+ Fund (FONAREDD).

The first project, titled “Smallholder Deforestation-Free Agriculture,” is financed by CAFI with $2 million for 11 months. Officially launched on December 22, 2024, it seeks to encourage smallholders to adopt sustainable farming practices, particularly by moving away from slash-and-burn cultivation in forested areas.

The second project, “Supply of Inputs and Stabilization of Smallholder Agriculture,” benefits from $30 million in FONAREDD funding over three years. Launched on June 30, 2025, it aims to improve smallholder productivity and promote more stable and sustainable agricultural practices in the region.

Both initiatives focus on three core objectives: distributing certified local seeds to increase yields, promoting the “farmer-entrepreneur” model to support the creation of rural microenterprises, and introducing Payments for Environmental Services (PES) to reward sustainable farming and reforestation.

Ronsard Luabeya, Bankable