Locations
KINSHASA, 16 August – Concluding a week-long official visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and United Nations Development Programme Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, reiterated the UNDP’s support to the Congolese people and authorities in their efforts to fight inequalities and injustice, and foster inclusive and sustainable development. She underlined the importance for the international community to seize a unique momentum and mobilise towards the country’s development opportunities, including maximizing dividends from the large domestic and regional markets through the new African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and greater investments in human capital development and infrastructure.
Over the weekend, the Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa met with H.E. President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo and discussed practical ways to invest in human capital, foster synergies between the government’s programme supporting youth innovation and the UNDP Accelerator Lab initiative to unleash the immense creative energies and potentials of the Congolese youth. They also discussed the importance of peace and stability and democratic process as prerequisites for development.
“The UNDP is ready to provide effective technical assistance to reinforce democratic institutions and the electoral process, in collaboration with other UN entities, if and when the government requests it,” highlighted Ms. Eziakonwa. “The UNDP is also committed to accompany the government in the implementation of its programme on accelerated local community development with key actions towards access to education and healthcare, and developing agriculture, infrastructures and renewable energy.”
H.E. Tshisekedi Tshilombo and Ms Eziakonwa explored together practical ways to support common priorities for the continent, such as greater integration, implementation of the AfCFTA towards inclusive economies, gender and women empowerment and climate action, with DRC being a major actor in African development and currently chairing the African Union.
Earlier in the week, Ms. Eziakonwa had met with Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge, Vice- Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Christophe Lutundula Apala and other members of the cabinet and of the government. Ms. Eziakonwa met the presidential strategic policy advisory council (CPVS) and the Economic and Social Council where she emphasized on the critical importance to monitor on the Sustainable Development Goals and major development priorities for the government and the Congolese people. She also engaged with Ambassadors of neighboring countries and discussed the centrality of peace and security actions and the remarkable openings for trade and development the AfCFTA crystalises.
Ms. Eziakonwa met with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), Ms. Bintou Keita, and her deputies, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mr. David McLachlan-Karr and the Deputy for Protection and Operations Mr Khassim Diagne, with whom she exchanged views on transition in general, and on stabilization therein. They engaged on the role of the UN mission in supporting the Stabilization joint programme, as well as UNDP’s commitment to support Demobilization, Disarmament, Community Reintegration and Stabilization as per Executive Committee decision of 11 May 2021.
She also met with the UN Country Team and development partners to gain a better understanding of their priorities and readiness for the various transitions, including the implementation of the collaboration between peace, development and humanitarian actions (nexus), and their expectations on UNDP’s support to the UN Development System. They shared observations on cross-borders matters and the evolving landscape of support, to which Ms. Eziakonwa added that of UNDP’s specialized Africa Borderlands Center.
In the country’s capital Kinshasa, Ms. Eziakonwa also exchanged with ambassadors and heads of cooperation representing the donors’ community in the DRC with whom they discussed the importance of seizing the momentum and current political will to change the current narrative on DRC, and support the country’s development priorities. She engaged with delegations of women leaders and influencers as well as private sector entrepreneurs, including the President of the Federation of Congolese Enterprises, Mr. Albert Yuma, and committed to the creation of a new platform for advocacy and action to support women empowerment in DRC and create occasions for them to benefit from the AfCFTA.
RD Ahunna Eziakonwa Meets With DRC Women Influencers: https://youtu.be/nC8lqcTGFcg
“The AfCFTA is seen as a game changer in boosting regional value chains,” explained the UN Assistant Secretary-General. “Government officials, African ambassadors, private entrepreneurs, women influencers and young innovators I met, all referred to the role the private sector can play in supporting development especially through the AfCFTA.” She added that UNDP will support them in seizing these immediate opportunities but also developing long-term strategies to create enabling environments for empowerment and prosperity.
During her mission, Ms. Eziakonwa traveled to Kananga, in the Central Kasai province, where she inaugurated UNDP’s new office, met with provincial and local authorities and conversed with women and girls benefitting from the Canada-funded Justice, Autonomy and Dignity project. She witnessed UNDP’s support and major role in the joint peace, humanitarian and development work led by the UN in the region.
“The women and girls I met in Kananga have survived sexual and gender-based violence. I am grateful they shared the remarkable stories of their resilience with me and showed me how the project has transformed them by giving them access to an income-generating activity, justice, medical and psychological support,” said Ms. Eziakonwa. “I pledge our support to them and to the magistrates I met, who are leading the critical fight against impunity, promoting the rule of law and upholding human dignity in the Kasai. Women in DRC never give up and our role is to support them in playing the role they deserve in developing this country.”
Visiting Goma, in the North Kivu province, in eastern DRC, the Regional Director engaged with provincial authorities, UN agencies and partners on humanitarian, development and peacekeeping actions and how they can reinforce each other towards greater recovery and resilience.
“The Democratic Republic of the Congo is at a critical period in its history. Our work in governance and institution-building will be central to stabilization efforts in the area as well as the organization of the next round of elections”, declared the Assistant Secretary-General. “The meeting with the Social Economic Council emphasized on the need for the DRC Governance profile and the central role of the council.
Meeting with a group of young entrepreneurs and artists in Kinshasa on the occasion of the International Youth Day towards the end of her visit, Ms. Eziakonwa indicated she was “impressed by the energy, creativity and ingenuity of youth in the DRC. The willingness to take their destinies into their hands is palpable and should be supported.”
“Young Congolese can be proud of their heritage, their country and what they are bringing to the world. They have the skills, knowledge and tools to unlock the future of the DRC,” she added. “I am committed to providing youth with greater opportunities to develop the innovations, technologies, enterprises and projects they are dreaming of, and which would propel development in the DRC and give youth the place they deserve at the global discussions table.”
UNDP’s Regional Director for Africa additionally emphasized the importance of supporting the DRC in protecting the world’s second most expansive forest and largest freshwater reservoir, a few days after a UN climate report underscored that greenhouse‐gas emissions and deforestation are causing the gravest dangers of global warming. The DRC is the biggest of six countries forming the Central African forest – the second largest forest cover in the world after the Amazon.
“An efficient and transparent management of natural resources is essential not only to the DRC and its people, but also to the rest of the planet,” explained Ms. Eziakonwa. “UNDP is working with Congolese people and authorities to protect resources and manage its abundant mineral, forestry, and oil resources to foster a greener and more inclusive economy and sustainable development."
UNDP has been working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 1976, working with national actors, partner institutions and local communities in favor of human and sustainable development. Current collaboration focuses on technical and policy support towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, accountability and transparency, the consolidation of peace and the strengthening of democracy, the socio-economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, support to women and youth, development planning and inclusive growth, and climate change and natural resources management.
For further information and interview requests, please contact:
Clarisse Museme, Communication Analyst (Kinshasa), clarisse.museme@undp.org, +243 99 99 88 572
Eve Sabbagh, Strategic Communications Specialist, eve.sabbagh@undp.org, +1 484 904 5730 ### ### ###
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