Congo - Institutional support project for the modernization of Banque Congolaise de l'Habitat

The proposed operation concerns a grant not exceeding a total amount of 486 364UC granted to the Republic of Congo from the resources of the Technical Assistance Fund for Middle Income Countries (MIC-TAF) with a view to financing support for the Congolese Housing Bank (BCH) in its revival and contributing to the strengthening of the housing finance system in Congo. The Bank's assistance under this project should provide institutional support for BCH, in order to equip it with expertise, methodological tools and organisational procedures, as well as adequate financial resources to strengthen its capacities in terms of governance, management, processes, procedures and project auditing skills, which are essential for any financial institution in a recovery or restructuring phase. Specifically, this project will help to: (i) strengthen BCH's organisational, functional and management framework; (ii) support it in refocusing its activities, proposing solutions for cleaning up its debt portfolio and improving its performance; (iii) develop a real estate offering for economic players and target populations on the one hand, and on the other hand support the Congolese State through its supervisory Ministry in charge of Urban Planning and Housing in strengthening the Government's programmes in the areas of: (i) governance of property development; (ii) promotion of housing and decent housing; and (iii) development of inclusive, gender-sensitive and climate-sensitive property infrastructure. The project activities will be carried out over 26 months.