DRC Multi-modal Transport

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The development objectives of the Multimodal Transport Project are: (i) to improve transport connectivity in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) so as to support national economic integration, (ii) to restore Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer du Congo (National Railway Company of DRC - SNCC) financial and operational viability, and (iii) to implement a sector wide governance plan and strengthen transport state-owned enterprises (SOEs) operational performances. There are four components to the project. The first component of the project is SNCC recovery plan. This component will support the reform of SNCC management and operations through: (i) payments of up to 1,675 voluntary retirees' departing indemnities and social security pension contributions, (ii) financing of track and rolling stock rehabilitation and upgrade, (iii) reimbursement of SNCC eligible operational costs (mainly fuel, electricity and water bills), (iv) training of key new and existing personnel, and (v) monitoring of project's impact. The second component of the project is operational performance strengthening and improved governance of the sector. This component will: (i) pay for the retirement indemnities of 77 RVF (Regie des Voies Fluviales - National Waterways Management Agency) agents using an approach similar to that used for SNCC, (ii) pay for an internal diagnostic of the Ministry of Transport (MoT) so as to identify possible reorganizational scenarios, (iii) finance MoT's agents training and MoT equipment, and (iv) finance the annual audits of SOEs procurement and financial activities that will be used to strengthen from the project onset SOE fiduciary governance. The third component of the project is international trade procedures simplification. To prepare for the implementation of international trade agreements and in light of the ongoing study on the facilitation of international trade, the MTP will support the development of an international trade procedures simplification strategy and the associated action plan, including materials, equipments and basic infrastructure investments designed to facilitate the flow of goods along DRC main international trade transport corridors. The fourth component of the project is project management. This final component will fund the cost of the Project Management Entity (PME) located within the MoT (Cellule d'Execution du Projet de Transport Multimodal, CEPTM) in charge of the MTP.