The Democratic Republic of Congo has some of the most fertile land in the world, but for decades the small farming communities surrounding Lake Kivu in eastern Congo have endured cycles of violence and post-conflict poverty. Emerging from this post-conflict turmoil, these entrepreneurial farmers have always defied the odds and produced some of the world’s greatest coffee and cocoa beans.
Investment in economic development creates income-generating opportunities for the Congolese people. This is the fastest and most sustainable way to lift citizens out of the cycle of poverty and offers tremendous potential for increasing stability in the region and opens doors to improved health and education.
Growth in the agricultural sector can revolutionize local communities and the economy in the region. Small investments in capacity-building for farmers with crops in demand in turn stimulates demand for goods and workers, while at the same time reducing and stabilizing the price of food.
Additional Research
The Democratic Republic of Congo
World Bank
UNDP