Democratic Republic Of Congo Urbanization Review

The Democratic Republic of Congo has the third largest urban population in sub-Saharan Africa (estimated at 43% in 2016) after South Africa and Nigeria. It is expected to grow at a rate of 4.1% per year, which corresponds to an additional 1 million residents moving to cities every year. If this trend continues, the urban population could double in just 15 years. Thus, with a population of 12 million and a growth rate of 5.1% per year, Kinshasa is poised to become the most populous city in Africa by 2030. Such strong urban growth comes with two main challenges †“ the need to make cities livable and inclusive by meeting the high demand for social services, infrastructure, education, health, and other basic services; and the need to make cities more productive by addressing the lack of concentrated economic activity. The Urbanization Review of the Democratic Republic of Congo argues that the country is urbanizing at different rates and identifies five regions (East, South, Central, West and Congo Basin) that present specific challenges and opportunities. The Urbanization Review proposes policy options based on three sets of instruments, known as the three 'I's †“ Institutions, Infrastructures and Interventions †“ to help each region respond to its specific needs while reaping the benefits of economic agglomeration The Democratic Republic of the Congo is at a crossroads. The recent decline in commodity prices could constitute an opportunity for the country to diversify its economy and invest in the manufacturing sector. Now is an opportune time for Congolese decision-makers to invest in cities that can lead the country's structural transformation and facilitate greater integration with African and global markets. Such action would position the country well on the path to emergence.

This 2015 Article IV Consultation highlights that the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s macroeconomic performance remained strong through the first half of 2015 despite a difficult external and domestic environment. Real GDP growth in 2014 is estimated at 9.2 percent, driven by copper production and the service sector. The medium-term outlook is favorable but subject to downside risks. Real GDP growth is projected to remain strong at 9.2 percent in 2015—among the highest rates in the world—and average 8.4 percent in 2016–17 before stabilizing at about 6 percent in 2018–20.

This publication examines key issues related to the development of the education sector in Democratic Republic of Congo, focusing on the primary and secondary levels. Topics discussed include: background context, structure of the education system, education finance, learning outcomes and conditions, and educational quality aspects; as well as a chapter on the organisation, quality and financing of the higher education sector.

The development of an effective state, a reliable infrastructure, and a dynamic private sector has long been hampered by political economy obstacles in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Resilience of an African Giant identifies these obstacles, which prevent the country from realizing its economic potential as the second-largest country in Sub-Saharan Africa, and outlines how they can be—and in some cases have been—overcome. Four instruments that have been used to boost economic development in the past and that can contribute to more development in the future are explored in the book: coordination among those who control or influence policy, application of new technologies, leveraging of external anchors, and development of social accountability networks. This book pulls together an impressive body of research on the exemplary transition of a country from a state of conflict to a post-conflict situation, and from there toward becoming a country with legitimate institutions created by free, democratic, and transparent elections.… I therefore wholeheartedly recommend it to all who are interested in development, particularly to policy makers in my country, as well as its partners.

Addressing rural development is key for Ethiopia's growth process. A series of government-led structural reforms have contributed to sustained growth in the country over the last two decades as well as to considerable poverty reduction in rural areas. However, Ethiopia faces critical challenges it will need to overcome to meet the needs of a growing rural population. In practice, this will require updating the existing rural development strategy in order to better integrate the interaction of rural and urban areas. Policy approaches that account for the fast urbanisation process experienced in the country will therefore be key to improving the well-being of rural populations and promoting national growth. This report takes a spatial approach to study Ethiopia's rural development strategies. It highlights the need to develop stronger and more functional linkages between rural and urban areas. As such, the development of intermediary cities and small urban centres provides large scope for inclusive rural transformation. The report is the result of rigorous analysis, and extensive consultations with national and international stakeholders. It identifies some of the key challenges faced by rural areas and provides a series of recommendations to enhance Ethiopia's rural development strategies.

Perceptions of eroding living standards and low life satisfaction are widespread in the Middle East and North Africa region today, along with pessimism about prospects for economic mobility. Conventional measures of economic well-being offer little in the way of explanation †“ in most countries in the region, extreme poverty is low and declining and economic inequality is lower than in other parts of the world. This book investigates possible reasons for this disconnect, focusing on the role played by inadequate and unequal access to opportunities to realize one’s aspirations for economic mobility. The inability of most countries in the region to meet the aspirations of citizens is closely linked to persistent weaknesses in the labor markets where the pace of job creation has been chronically below levels required to absorb the growing and increasingly better educated population. A high degree of segmentation in the labor markets also puts the youth and women in the region at a particular disadvantage. While labor markets are critical for mobility, opportunities and life paths can diverge even earlier in life if access to basic services in health, education and infrastructure are unequally distributed among children in their formative years. This book documents sharp disparities in the quality of services available to children of varying birth circumstances in the region. Although the most intense debates in development coalesce around inequality of income or wealth, the notion of inequality of opportunity has an intuitive appeal that can bridge ideological differences. By drawing attention to the notion of equality of opportunity to create a level playing field for all sections of society, the book highlights the need to critically examine the social contract and governance structures that guide the delivery of services and are instrumental for implementing necessary reforms to make labor markets more dynamic and equitable.

Avec une population urbaine estimée à 43% en 2016, la proportion de la population urbaine de la République démocratique du Congo est la troisième plus importante en Afrique subsaharienne, après celle de l’Afrique du Sud et du Nigéria. Avec un taux d’urbanisation de 4.1% par an, les villes congolaises accueillent ainsi, chaque année, 1 million de citadins supplémentaires. Si cette tendance se poursuit, la population urbaine pourrait doubler en l’espace de 15 ans seulement. De plus, avec ses 12 millions d’habitants et un taux de croissance de 5.1% par an, Kinshasa pourrait devenir d’ici 2030 la ville la plus peuplée d’Afrique. Cette forte croissance urbaine s’accompagne de deux défis majeurs : d’une part, celui de rendre les villes habitables et inclusives en répondant à la forte demande de services sociaux et d’infrastructures, d’éducation, de santé et d’autres services de base et à l’importante pauvreté urbaine, et d’autre part, celui de rendre les villes plus productives grâce à une meilleure concentration de l’activité économique. La Revue de l’Urbanisation de la République démocratique du Congo montre que le pays s’urbanise à des rythmes différents, et identifie 5 régions (Est, Sud, Centre, Ouest et Bassin du Congo) qui présente des défis et des opportunités qui leur sont spéficiques. La Revue propose des mesures de politiques publiques sous trois ensembles d’instruments †“ les « 3 Is » (Institutions, Infrastructures et Interventions) pour aider chaque région à répondre à ses besoins spécifiques tout en tirant parti des effets d’agglomération économique. Ainsi, il est proposé pour les régions à urbanisation naissante (région de l’est) d’investir dans les Institutions courantes qui régulent les marchés (foncier par exemple), et fournissent les services de base. A mesure que l’on progresse vers un stage d’urbanisation intermédiaire (régions du sud et du centre) et que les marchés se consolident, les Infrastructures de liaison extra-urbaines et intra-urbaines deviennent essentielles. Les infrastructures de transport qui relient les villes et l’arrière-pays rural peuvent intégrer les marchés de produits, accroître le commerce inter-régional et faciliter la spécialisation économique. Dans les régions à urbanisation avancée (région de l’ouest), les priorités consistent à consolider les institutions, accroître les investissements en infrastructures de liaison et renforcer les Interventions ciblées ainsi que les actions à mener pour réduire la formation des quartiers précaires à Kinshasa, par exemple. La République démocratique du Congo est à la croisée des chemins. La récente baisse des prix des matières premières pourrait être l’occasion pour le pays de diversifier son économie et d’investir dans le secteur manufacturier. Le moment est indiqué pour que les décideurs congolais investissent dans des villes capables d’être le moteur de la transformation structurelle du pays et d’une meilleure intégration avec les marchés africains et mondiaux afin de conduire le pays sur la voie de l’émergence.