AFD Reinforces Partnership with Kinshasa to Protect Congo Basin Forests and Fight

Kinshasa, July 14, 2026 - The Democratic Republic of Congo and France are strengthening their cooperation on environmental protection and climate action, with a renewed focus on preserving the Congo Basin forests and involving local communities in sustainable resource management. The Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and New Climate Economy, Marie Nyange Ndambo, met in Kinshasa with Christophe Lecourtier, Director General of the French Development Agency (AFD) Group, during his first official visit to the DRC. The discussions focused on strengthening Franco-Congolese cooperation in key areas, including forest conservation, climate initiatives, and support for strategic institutions such as the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB). Christophe Lecourtier praised the environmental commitments undertaken by the Congolese government and reaffirmed France’s support for the DRC’s climate ambitions. He emphasized that protecting forests remains one of the AFD Group’s major priorities, given the global importance of the Congo Basin ecosystem. “Forests are at the forefront of our priorities, and the challenge is to move from commitments to concrete actions,” he said, highlighting the need for practical solutions capable of producing measurable results. The AFD chief also welcomed the role assigned to the DRC under the Belém Appeal framework, which places the country at the center of global efforts to preserve the Congo Basin forests. He expressed France’s willingness to support Congolese initiatives ahead of the next United Nations Climate Conference (COP), scheduled to take place in Turkey. A major focus of the discussions was the Z3D pilot project, an initiative designed to directly involve local communities in reducing deforestation through financial incentives. The project aims to ensure that communities living near forest areas become key actors in conservation efforts while benefiting economically from environmental protection. According to Christophe Lecourtier, the initiative could serve as a model beyond the DRC by demonstrating how local populations can be integrated into climate solutions through direct support mechanisms. The AFD Director General also highlighted the global importance of Congolese forests and peatlands, stressing that their protection has consequences far beyond national borders. These ecosystems play a crucial role in carbon storage and climate regulation, affecting both African and global climate stability. He warned that increasing climate disruptions, including extreme heat events affecting Europe and other regions, demonstrate the urgency of stronger international cooperation. “Global warming can only be contained through partnerships with countries such as the DRC, which possess essential natural assets for slowing climate change,” he emphasized. The visit reflects the strategic importance of the DRC within France’s development cooperation priorities. With more than €731 million allocated across 35 ongoing projects, the country remains one of the French Development Agency Group’s major areas of intervention in Central Africa. Through its various entities, including AFD for public-sector financing, Proparco for private-sector support, and Expertise France for technical cooperation, the AFD Group continues to support projects aligned with sustainable development goals, including climate protection, biodiversity preservation, health-system strengthening, economic development, and social resilience. As the DRC seeks to position itself as a global environmental actor, the strengthened partnership with France aims to transform the country’s vast forest resources into a foundation for sustainable development and international climate action.