# Democratic Republic of the Congo - Link: https://perfectnations.org/blueprints/dr-congo/ - Published: 2026-05-22T22:15:19-04:00 - Author: Preeti Sinha National Blueprint · One of 195 # DR Congo A nation of 112.8 million that mines about three-quarters of the world’s cobalt, holds 61.5% of its land in forest, and connects fewer than one in four people to electricity. * **74%**Of the world’s cobalt, 2025 * **11**Financing instruments on record * **42,000 MW**Hydropower potential at Inga [Book a Session](https://perfectnations.org/blueprints/dr-congo/#bp-begin) [Read the Letter](https://perfectnations.org/blueprints/dr-congo/#bp-letter) The Congo in BloomTo be painted · [The Gallery](https://perfectnations.org/gallery/) Perfect Nations™ · Letters to the NationsDR Congo ## Dear Congo, You mined 230,000 tonnes of cobalt in 2025, about three of every four tonnes on Earth, and you hold half the world’s known reserves. … The batteries of the energy transition begin in your ground. Most of you still have no electricity at all. “The batteries of the energy transition begin in your ground. Most of you still have no light to read by.” Yours in design,**The Steward-General** [Read the full letter](https://perfectnations.org/letter-dr-congo/) Sovereign Assets ## Five assets no balance sheet counts. Each is owned today, earns today for someone, and can carry more of the Living Line than it does. * 01 * ### The Cobalt * 230,000 tMined in 2025, of 310,000 t worldwide * About three-quarters of world output, and 6 million tonnes of reserves, half the world total. * 02 * ### Inga * 42,000 MWHydropower potential at the Inga site * Inga 3 alone could generate 3,000 to 11,000 MW, depending on design. * 03 * ### The Forest * 61.5%Of land under forest, 2024 * About 1.39 million km² of forest, the heart of the Congo Basin. * 04 * ### The River * 8,789 m³Renewable fresh water per person, 2022 * Abundant water, while basic drinking water reaches only 35.7% of people. * 05 * ### The People * 112.8mCitizens, 2025 * A young nation, 45% of it in cities. What each asset is worth, and how much of the Living Line it can carry: in the mandate [Sovereign Assets](https://perfectnations.org/the-ledger/) Capital Architecture ## Eleven instruments. The money is arriving for power, water and forest. DR Congo is under an IMF programme with a climate facility attached, and the World Bank is financing Inga, electricity and water together. The question is whether they move the standard furthest below the Living Line: light. Open any line for the detail and its source. * ActiveExtended Credit FacilityApproved 15 January 2025 · 38 months$1.729B * 125 percent of quota * Supports macroeconomic stability, the business climate, governance and transparency, and inclusive growth. * International Monetary Fund * [Source](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/01/15/pr-25003-democratic-republic-of-congo-imf-apv-38-mth-1729-mill-ecf-arr-and-1038-mill-rsf-arr) * ActiveResilience and Sustainability FacilityApproved 15 January 2025 · 38 months $1.038B * 75 percent of quota * Supports climate adaptation and mitigation, the protection of the rainforest, and the nation’s role in the low-carbon transition. * International Monetary Fund * [Source](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/01/15/pr-25003-democratic-republic-of-congo-imf-apv-38-mth-1729-mill-ecf-arr-and-1038-mill-rsf-arr) * ActiveAccess, Governance and Reform for the Electricity and Water SectorsApproved 31 March 2022 · Investment project financing$634M * Electricity and water together * Expands renewable electricity and water access, improves utility performance and strengthens institutions. It is aimed at the standard furthest below the Living Line. * World Bank * [Source](https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/project-detail/P173506) * ActiveTransport and Connectivity Support ProjectApproved 23 June 2022 · Investment project financing$500M * Kasai and the east * Provides resilient, safe connectivity in Kasai and eastern DR Congo and increases sector transparency. * World Bank * [Source](https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/project-detail/P161877) * ActiveWater Supply and Sanitation Access Program (PASEA)Approved 9 June 2023 · Investment project financing$400M * Drinking water and sanitation * Expands drinking water and sanitation access in selected provinces and builds public and private delivery capacity. * World Bank * [Source](https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/project-detail/P178389) * ActiveDigital Transformation ProjectApproved 27 June 2024 · Investment project financing$400M * Broadband and digital services * Expands affordable broadband, digital services and digital skills. * World Bank * [Source](https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/project-detail/P180495) * ActiveGirls Learning and Empowerment ProjectApproved 28 March 2023 · Investment project financing$400M * Secondary education for girls * Improves safe, equitable access to secondary education, especially for girls, and teaching conditions. * World Bank * [Source](https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/project-detail/P178684) * ActiveForest and Savanna Restoration Investment ProgramApproved 2 June 2023 · Investment project financing$300M * Forest landscapes and livelihoods * Improves forest landscape management and community livelihoods in selected areas. * World Bank * [Source](https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/project-detail/P178642) * ActiveInga 3 foundationsApproved 3 June 2025 · IDA credit$250M * To lay the foundations for Inga 3 * Supports the sustainable development of Inga 3, which could generate between 3,000 and 11,000 MW depending on its design. * World Bank * [Source](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/factsheet/2024/10/09/questions-and-answers-on-world-bank-support-for-the-democratic-republic-of-congos-afe-drc-grand-inga-development-program) * ActiveStabilization and Recovery in Eastern DR CongoApproved 20 December 2022· Investment project financing$250M * Communities affected by conflict * Improves community infrastructure, supports the reintegration of people affected by conflict and strengthens provincial administrations. * World Bank * [Source](https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/project-detail/P175834) * ActiveEnhancing Collection of Revenue and Expenditure ManagementApproved 16 December 2021 · Investment project financing$250M * Mining revenue transparency * Increases the transparency of mining revenue and improves expenditure management, so that the cobalt can pay for the Living Line. * World Bank * [Source](https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/project-detail/P171762) [Capital Architecture](https://perfectnations.org/capital-architecture/) The Design Studio · DR Congo ## Three ways to begin. This page is the finding. The work that turns it into a financed programme is done with the nation, at the depth the nation chooses. **The Living Line** The basic standard of living every citizen should stand above: food, water, shelter, energy, education, health and livelihood. * 01 · The Session3 hours * ### Find the break. * Where does DR Congo fall furthest below the Living Line, and why there? * **You leave with**A written brief on power and water, the standards furthest below the Living Line, and the assets that can carry them. * [Book the Session](https://perfectnations.org/contact/?nation=dr-congo&door=session) * 02 · The Engagement3 days * ### Design one instrument. * Which instrument would move the Living Line fastest, and on what terms? * **You leave with**A draft term sheet: targets, structure and the counterparties to approach. * [Plan the Engagement](https://perfectnations.org/contact/?nation=dr-congo&door=engagement) * 03 · The MandateEnd to end * ### Finance the Living Line. * What would it take for every Congolese citizen to clear all seven standards? * **You leave with**The assets valued, the Living Line priced per citizen, the programme year by year, the instruments drafted and the institutions sequenced. * [Begin the mandate](https://perfectnations.org/contact/?nation=dr-congo&door=mandate) State of Nations · DR Congo ## On the record. [All of State of Nations](https://perfectnations.org/state-of-nations/) * 5 Nov 2025[**IMF staff reach agreement on the second ECF review and the first RSF review**](https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2025/11/05/pr25358-drc-imf-reaches-sla-with-drc-on-2nd-rev-under-the-ecf-and-the-1st-rev-under-rsf) IMF * 3 Jun 2025[**World Bank approves a USD 250m credit to lay the foundations for Inga 3**](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/factsheet/2024/10/09/questions-and-answers-on-world-bank-support-for-the-democratic-republic-of-congos-afe-drc-grand-inga-development-program) World Bank * 15 Jan 2025[**IMF approves USD 1.729bn and USD 1.038bn arrangements**](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/01/15/pr-25003-democratic-republic-of-congo-imf-apv-38-mth-1729-mill-ecf-arr-and-1038-mill-rsf-arr) IMF Watching: IMF reviews, the Inga 3 programme, and electricity access. The office is open ## Design the next DR Congo. For a ministry, a development bank or an investor. Every enquiry is read by the Steward-General. [Write to the Stewards](https://perfectnations.org/contact/?nation=dr-congo) [All 195 nations](https://perfectnations.org/blueprints/) Sources 1. World Bank, World Development Indicators: population 2025 (112,832,473), land, forest and agriculture 2024, renewable freshwater per person 2022, urban share 2025. 2. U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Cobalt: Congo (Kinshasa) 230,000 t of 310,000 t world mine production, 2025; reserves 6,000,000 t of 12,000,000 t. 3. World Bank, Questions and answers on support for the Grand Inga development program: around 42,000 MW potential; Inga 3 at 3,000 to 11,000 MW; USD 250 million IDA credit approved 3 June 2025. 4. International Monetary Fund press releases 25/03 (15 January 2025) and 25/358 ( 5 November 2025). 5. World Bank project pages for each register entry, as linked. 6. Coverage of the seven standards: FAO (food, 2024); WHO/UNICEF JMP (water, 2024); UN-Habitat (urban slums, 2022); World Bank (electricity access, 2024); UNESCO ( pupil-teacher ratio, 2015); WHO UHC service coverage index (health, 2023); national poverty headcount via the World Bank (livelihood, 2020).