• The World Bank will provide $250 million to improve waste management and create jobs in Kinshasa.
• Kinshasa produces about 12,000 tonnes of waste daily, with 98% left uncollected or openly dumped.
• The project forms part of a broader $900 million World Bank financing program targeting urban development.

The World Bank will provide $250 million to finance the Kinshasa Urban Transformation and Jobs Program, known as “Kin la Belle,” in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to a statement that the institution published on Tuesday, April 28, the funding will improve solid waste management services and create inclusive job opportunities in the Congolese capital. Moreover, the initiative forms part of a broader World Bank financing program that totals around $900 million.

Urban sanitation and job creation at the core of the program

The operation relies on three pillars.

First, the program will establish a functional solid waste management system to deliver a cleaner capital. The system will include collection points, transfer stations and an integrated waste management center in selected municipalities, with a model that authorities can scale across the entire city.

Second, the program will support future investments that aim to expand access to economic opportunities. These investments will include riverbank development and transport services along the Congo River.

Third, the program will generate jobs for women and young people through labor-intensive public works and will support micro and small enterprises in the waste value chain.

“Kinshasa is precisely where the World Bank’s global expertise in urban development can make the biggest difference, and the impact will be tangible: cleaner streets, fewer floods and real jobs for young Congolese who represent the future of this city,” said Albert Zeufack, World Bank director for Angola, Burundi, the DRC and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Kinshasa ranks among the fastest-growing megacities in Africa. The city hosts more than 17 million residents, and it could become the largest city on the continent by 2030. However, rapid expansion has outpaced the development of basic urban services.

The World Bank estimates that the city generates about 12,000 tonnes of waste daily, and residents dump or burn 98% of it in open spaces.

“Uncollected waste clogs drainage channels, amplifies flood risks and spreads disease in densely populated and low-income neighborhoods. At the same time, youth unemployment remains critical, highlighting the urgent need to create more quality jobs,” the institution added.

Furthermore, the Kin la Belle program will complement two other projects, Kin Elenda and PRIUR, which aim to address Kinshasa’s key urban challenges, including infrastructure development, access to water and electricity, and flood resilience.

This article was initially published in French by Lydie Mobio

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum