81323079 - Provision of international and national consultants to support FEC in economic development and business climate improvement

The objective of the DISM project is to support the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in exploiting international demand for responsibly extracted raw materials to create and strengthen high-potential local added value. The project contributes to significantly reducing poverty and diversifying the economy, particularly in areas around mining sites and the Lobito corridor, to reduce dependence on mining sector revenues and develop local value chains. The project is based on environmental, social, and governance standards in the mining sector in the DRC. It strengthens governance and economic development around mining exploitation in existing intervention regions, and mainly around the Lobito corridor. It also actively contributes to strengthening the capacity of civil society to promote transparency and accountability in the mining sector and increasing the mobilization of revenues from the mining sector.

Under its component 2 on Economic Development in the Lobito Corridor Area, the project supports the structuring and organizational development of the Federation of Congolese Enterprises (FEC) in Lualaba, as well as the promotion of training programs, especially for SMEs. The project aims to strengthen the FEC's position as a government interlocutor at national and provincial levels, as well as in its role as an interface for economic actors in the DRC, contributing to improving the business climate and increasing opportunities for added value creation through access to subcontracting markets for Congolese SMEs. Furthermore, through the establishment of a multi-stakeholder consultation framework, the project creates a dedicated space for dialogue, fostering synergies and the co-construction of initiatives that promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Co-led by the Federation of Congolese Enterprises (FEC) and the Ministry of Industry and SMEs, this framework will bring together public institutions, the private sector, and civil society from the provinces of Haut-Katanga and Lualaba.