UK, IFC sign $3.1 million deal to expand agribusiness financing in DR Congo

United Kingdom, through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and the International Finance Corporation have signed an agreement to scale financing for agribusinesses in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in a push to expand credit access for farmers and small businesses while stimulating job creation across agricultural value chains.

The four-year program, backed by a £2.3 million ($3.11 million) contribution from the UK government, is designed to unlock private investment in agriculture through advisory services, upstream market support, and financial sector reforms aimed at improving access to capital for underserved segments of the economy.

Expanding access for farmers and women-led businesses

The initiative is expected to support more than 300 women-owned small and medium enterprises and improve access to modern equipment and finance for at least 5,000 farmers and agribusiness operators. It also carries the potential to generate thousands of jobs across farming, processing, and distribution networks.

“By mobilizing finance and supporting women-led businesses, we are creating jobs, improving food security, and strengthening agricultural value chains across the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said Malick Fall, IFC Country Manager.

From the UK side, Peter Fernandes Cardy, Development Director at the British Embassy in Kinshasa, said the partnership reflects a commitment to climate-resilient agriculture and financial inclusion, aimed at removing structural barriers to investment and strengthening long-term economic resilience.

Agriculture at the center of Congo’s economy

Agriculture accounts for about 21% of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s GDP and remains the country’s largest employer. However, persistent constraints, including limited access to finance, inadequate infrastructure, and weak adoption of climate-smart practices, continue to suppress productivity and deepen food insecurity.

The new program aims to address these gaps by strengthening financial institutions, improving the regulatory environment, and expanding the pipeline of investment-ready agribusinesses capable of attracting private capital at scale.

Linking climate finance and private capital

The initiative aligns with the World Bank Group’s AgriConnect agenda and will support climate-smart agricultural financing, tailored credit products for women entrepreneurs, and innovative leasing solutions for farm equipment. It will also advance reforms in investment climate frameworks, including in special economic zones.

Through IFC’s Local Champions Initiative, the program will help prepare high-potential agribusinesses for investment, strengthening the country’s pipeline of bankable projects while reducing dependence on food imports.

The trust fund will run through December 2029, with a mandate to catalyze private capital, improve rural livelihoods, and deepen financial inclusion across Congo’s agricultural economy.