Democratic Republic Of Congo Urbanization Review: Productive And Inclusive Cities For An Emerging Democratic Republic Of Congo (Directions In Development)

The Democratic Republic of Congo has the third largest urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa (estimated at 43 percent in 2016) after South Africa and Nigeria. It is expected to grow at a rate of 4.1 percent year, which corresponds to an additional 1 million residents moving to cities every year. If this trend continues, the urban population could double in just 15 years. Thus, with a population of 12 million and a growth rate of 5.1 percent year, Kinshasa is poised to become the most populous city in Africa by 2030. Such strong urban growth comes with two main challenges - the need to make cities livable and inclusive by meeting the high demand for social services, infrastructure, education, health, and other basic services; and the need to make cities more productive by addressing the lack of concentrated economic activity. The Urbanization Review of the Democratic Republic of Congo urbanization Review argues that country is urbanizing at different rates and identifies five regions (East, South, Central, West and Congo Basin) that present specific challenges and opportunities. The Urbanization Review proposes policy options based on three sets of instruments, known as the three "3Is" - Institutions, Infrastructures and Interventions - to help each region respond to its specific needs while reaping the benefits of economic agglomeration. Therefore it is proposed that the region with incipient urbanization (Eastern region) focus on strengthening institutions that regulate the markets progress to an intermediate urbanization stage (southern and Central region) and markets consolidate, linking extraurban and intraurban infrastructure becomes essential. The Transport infrastructure linking towns and rural hinterlands can integrate commodity markets, increase inter regional trade, and facilitate economic specialization. In regions with advanced urbanization (Western region), policy makers should focus on consolidating institutions, increasing investments in liaison infrastructure and reinforcing targeted intervention and actions to reduce the formation of precarious neighborhood in Kinshasa, for example. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is at a crossroads. The recent decline in commodity prices could constitute an opportunity for the country to diversify its economy and invest in the manufacturing sector. Now is an opportune time for Congolese decision makers to invest in cities that can lead the country's structural transformation and facilitate greater integration with African and global markets. Such action would position the country well on the path to emergence.

• | Author: The World Bank
• | Publisher: World Bank Publications
• | Publication Date: Dec 13, 2017
• | Number of Pages: 86 pages
• | Language: English
• | Binding: Paperback/Business & Economics
• | ISBN-10: 1464812039
• | ISBN-13: 9781464812033