DRC – Development of agro-industrial parks

The objective is to reduce poverty, ensure food and nutritional security for rural populations, and create sustainable jobs and incomes. Other expected results include improved access to markets, inputs, and agricultural services. The program targets economically, socially, and environmentally fragile and disadvantaged areas with significant agricultural potential, whose sustainable development will contribute to improving the country's food security.

PRODAN is part of the government's major priority program, which aims to eventually reach all 22 provinces of the country and gradually reverse the trend of food insecurity through the development of special agro-industrial processing zones. This program will directly benefit more than 131,413 households, representing approximately 750,000 people, including 521 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions for women, and indirectly benefit 500,000 farming households. It will lead to the creation and strengthening of approximately 35 small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises, 40,000 direct jobs for young people (18-35 years old), including 301 FTE positions for girls and another 20,000 direct jobs (301 FTE positions for women).

To ensure the sustainability of investments, the participatory and inclusive approach adopted during the project's preparation and evaluation will continue during its implementation phase to involve all stakeholders. Similarly, the "Special Agro-Industrial Transformation Zone (SAZ)" designation will attract the private agro-industrial sector and facilitate market access through investments in roads, equipment and various networks, social and production infrastructure, and access to different communication networks. Another project aims to contribute to the industrialization and development of South Ubangi province, a province rich in agricultural potential for both food crops and perennial crops. Currently, most economic activity remains in the primary sector; therefore, the project's objective is to provide a secure framework where agro-industries can operate freely with tax exemptions associated with special economic zones. This program was launched by USAID in March 2022. The Ubangi Special Economic Zone is located in Buaka. It includes 25,000 hectares of plantations with perennial agricultural products and primary processing industries.

A roasting unit has been established. The project's promoters created the Elikya Foundation, which houses a school with a capacity of 1,300 students, and a hospital center that has become a referral hospital in partnership with the government, comprising 15 pavilions and a capacity of approximately 230 beds. A recreation center is available for those working on the plantation. In terms of infrastructure, there is also an airfield allowing businesses to land directly in the area. Plans include exporting products north via National Route 6 (RN 6), to Zongo, then on to Bangui, and from there to Douala in Cameroon. The river can also be used to transport products back to Kinshasa.