The United Kingdom, through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and the International Finance Corporation have signed a four-year agreement to strengthen agribusiness financing and job creation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The initiative is designed to expand access to finance for small and medium enterprises, support farmers, and stimulate investment across agricultural value chains.
The program will combine advisory services and early-stage support to unlock private sector investment in agriculture. It is expected to benefit more than 300 women-owned SMEs, improve access to modern equipment and finance for at least 5,000 farmers and agribusinesses, and generate thousands of jobs across the sector, backed by a £2.3 million UK contribution.
Agriculture remains a key pillar of the DRC economy, contributing around 21 percent of GDP and employing a large share of the population. However, limited access to finance, technology, and climate-smart practices continues to constrain productivity. The partnership aims to address these barriers by strengthening financial systems, improving the investment environment, and building a stronger pipeline of viable agribusiness enterprises.
The program is aligned with the World Bank Group’s AgriConnect initiative and will promote climate-smart agricultural finance, tailored products for women entrepreneurs, and innovative leasing solutions. It will also support regulatory reforms, including improvements in special economic zones, while helping prepare high-potential firms for investment through IFC’s Local Champions Initiative.
Running until December 2029, the initiative is expected to mobilize private capital, strengthen food security, improve rural livelihoods, and reduce reliance on food imports by positioning agriculture as a driver of inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
