the Congo

A UNDP/World Bankfinanced feeder roads programme was launched in 1991. The programme included elements of road maintenance by agricultural/commercial companies, small contractor development, community-based road maintenance and capacity building of the "Service National des Routes de Desserte Agricole" to manage a decentralized contractor-based feeder road improvement and maintenance programme. It carried out pilot work on sandy soil stabilization and gabion manufacture using labour-based techniques, training of local community representatives and small bridge construction. The geographical coverage was restricted to three regions for security and logistic reasons. The ILO technical assistance team initially comprised a Chief Technical Adviser and a Training Adviser but was reduced to one expert following the political instability in 1992.

In 1997 a five year programme entitled "National Programme for the Re-launching of the Agriculture and Rural Sector" was signed. The programme was funded by UNDP and executed by UNOPS (United Nations Office for Project Services) with collaboration from FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) and ILO. The development objectives of this programme were (i) to secure feeding for the population of the country, (ii) to alleviate poverty and (iii) to release a surplus from the production and put it to the disposal of the agricultural industry in order to create remunerated employment in the rural areas and stop migration from rural areas. The technical assistance project mentioned above was integrated into this larger programme.

A project document on employment promotion by using a labour intensive approach was formulated; funding has not yet been found for this project.

Further reading