DRC Launches PREDIRE: A Landmark Initiative for Water and Climate Resilience

Focus Keyword: PREDIRE Programme DRC

On February 16, 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) officially launched the PREDIRE Programme, an initiative designed to enhance water management and climate resilience in the region, with substantial backing from the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group.

Addressing Poverty and Climate Challenges

The PREDIRE Programme specifically targets three provinces: Nord-Ubangi, Sud-Ubangi, and Mongala. These areas have long grappled with issues of poverty, inadequate infrastructure, and increasing climate pressures. As a result, the initiative aims to uplift these communities by improving essential service delivery.

The Importance of the Ubangi River

The Ubangi River extends over 2,272 kilometers, serving as a crucial waterway that flows through the DRC, the Central African Republic (CAR), and the Republic of Congo. As the main right-bank tributary of the Congo River, which is the second-largest river basin in the world, its strategic significance cannot be overstated. However, the potential of this region has remained mostly untapped, leading to severe underdevelopment.

The Impact of Climate Change

Over the past three decades, changing rainfall patterns have led to a 18% reduction in water levels and runoff in the Ubangi, severely impacting biodiversity, hindering river navigation, and limiting trade opportunities. The PREDIRE Programme is designed to counteract these detrimental trends through targeted interventions.

A Comprehensive Approach to Water and Food Security

The initiative is funded by a collaboration of partners including the African Development Fund, the AfDB’s concessional arm, the OPEC Fund, and the DRC government. Employing a water-food security-climate nexus approach, PREDIRE will integrate water infrastructure development with agricultural support and climate adaptation strategies.

Building Resilient Systems

On the ground, PREDIRE will implement a range of activities to build climate-resilient water systems. This includes:

• Modernizing the river’s information and monitoring systems
• Enhancing navigation along the Ubangi to facilitate trade between the CAR and the Republic of Congo

Benefiting Millions

The PREDIRE programme is expected to directly benefit 2.4 million people. Notably, more than half of these beneficiaries are women, and 71% of them are young people, with 69% currently living in absolute poverty. Alongside improving water access, PREDIRE aims to create 3,400 jobs, including 1,200 permanent positions, while offering entrepreneurship training and local livelihood support.

Targeted Support for Vulnerable Communities

The collaboration with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) aims to support 25,000 people living in fragile and displacement-affected communities. The programme will also focus on strengthening capacity among more than 1,300 institutional and community actors.

Execution and Future Prospects

The Ministry of Rural Development in the DRC oversees the PREDIRE component, which is technically coordinated through the PRISE II project. This initiative will bring modern tools for water governance and data-driven planning to the table.

A Broader Initiative

The DRC’s launch follows a successful implementation of the CAR component in August 2025. This makes the Ubangi basin a focal point for one of the most ambitious transboundary development initiatives in Central Africa.

The overarching PREDIRE initiative is supported by an additional $8.7 million investment from the Global Environment Facility, which has secured $67 million in co-financing. This funding will enhance systemic integration across water, agriculture, and transport sectors.

A Historic Opportunity

Project coordinator Deo Nsunzu articulates the stakes clearly: “The Support Programme for the Development of Cross-Border Water Infrastructure and Resources is more than a technical programme. It is a historic opportunity to stimulate the rural economy.”

For a region where water scarcity, conflict, and climate stress have historically coexisted, the PREDIRE Programme represents a transformative vision: that well-managed shared rivers can foster cooperation and resilience.

For more information on similar initiatives and collaborations, explore AfDB initiatives and learn how shared resources can drive sustainable development in vulnerable regions.