Photo: UNDP/Othniel Lukusa.
A new $50 million national investment programme to accelerate the Democratic Republic of Congo’s clean energy transition, expand access to clean cooking solutions and reduce deforestation, launched in Kinshasa today, led by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Nations Capital Development Fund, the Central African Forest Initiative and the Fonds National REDD+. Running from 2026 to 2030, the programme will support the growth of clean energy markets across the country, building on the first phase of the programme implemented in partnership with UN Development Programme. UNCDF will deploy concessional finance to help energy companies scale solutions such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas distribution, solar and hydro energy, high-tier improved cookstoves and sustainable biomass production.
“This $50 million programme represents a decisive turning point in our fight against deforestation and in improving the livelihoods of millions of Congolese people,” said Bavon N'sa Mputu Elima, National Executive Secretary of FONAREDD. “By structuring sustainable markets for clean cooking and renewable energy, we are gradually breaking the vicious cycle of dependence on wood fuel. This initiative protects our forest heritage, the second green lung of the planet, while creating concrete economic opportunities for our communities. It fully reflects the vision and ambitious objectives of our national REDD+ strategy.”
The DRC hosts the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest and one of the planet’s most important carbon sinks. Yet 90 percent of households continue to rely on wood fuel for cooking, accelerating forest degradation and exposing millions to harmful indoor air pollution. The programme responds to this challenge by strengthening the national clean energy ecosystem, reducing investment barriers and expanding access to modern energy services, while supporting the country’s commitment to reduce unsustainable wood fuel use by 50 percent by 2031 under the Letter of Intent with CAFI. Through concessional finance instruments and blended investment solutions, UNCDF will support companies and financial institutions working to expand access to affordable clean cooking solutions and modern energy services. The programme will also help strengthen supply chains and improve access to financing for households and small businesses.
“Transforming energy markets in early-stage and last-mile markets requires patient capital and strong partnerships,” said Laura Muñoz, UNCDF Regional Investment Lead for West and Central Africa. “Through catalytic finance and blended investment instruments, UNCDF is helping unlock the capital needed to scale clean cooking and renewable energy solutions, while creating economic opportunities and reducing pressure on the DRC’s forests.”
The $50 million facility will support companies operating across LPG, solar, hydro, improved cookstoves and sustainable biomass value chains. It is expected to generate more than 11,500 green jobs, with a particular focus on women, youth and Indigenous Peoples, positioning clean energy as a driver of both economic opportunity and forest protection.
“This programme represents a concrete step in advancing the objectives of the Letter of Intent between CAFI and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said Berta Presti, Head of Secretariat, Central African Forest Initiative. “By scaling clean cooking solutions and reducing reliance on wood fuel, the initiative contributes directly to measurable reductions in deforestation while supporting sustainable economic opportunities for communities.”
This programme builds on the Joint Programme on Sustainable Consumption and Partial Substitution for Wood Energy (2020–2025), co-implemented by UNCDF and UNDP with funding from CAFI through FONAREDD enabled more than two million people to access clean energy solutions, supported the distribution of over 300,000 improved cookstoves, and mobilized $22 million in additional private sector financing.
