Improving the lives of local communities through public sanitation works and treatment of erosion in Congo

The Congo is characterised by wide economic disparities across its territories. Not only are there significant differences between urban and rural areas, the north and south, and primary versus secondary cities, but there are also notable inequalities among rural areas themselves in terms of population density, agricultural production, and the presence of large natural resources. To address these disparities, together with the EU, the Government of the Republic of Congo has designated economic and commercial governance as well as local development as the two key focal points of its 2014-2020 National Indicative Programme (NIP). The majority of the NIP’s financial resources (€77 million, i.e. 75% of the total) is allocated to local development, of which ”Resilient Cities” is the main programme.

In its approach to sustainable and participatory local development, the EU emphasises the role of local authorities, placing them in charge but encouraging the emergence of an effective system of coordination with other levels of governance, from central authorities to civil society. In this EU-funded project – which specifically targets the secondary cities of Nkayi and Owando with 71,500 and 21,000 habitants, respectively – sanitation and erosion control have been selected as areas where more participatory governance can lead to improved living conditions for the local population.

In order for the necessary urban planning works to occur in the most efficient and effective and least intrusive manner, NIRAS will conduct multiple feasibility studies on behalf of the EU.