Emergency Road Infrastructure Repairs in Support of WFP Operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo

This Special Operation 200864 seeks to promote the timely, efficient, reliableand cost-effective delivery of much-needed WFP food and other humanitarian assistance across DRC. This Special Operation will rehabilitate a planned 110km of rural roads and other key infrastructure along these routes, and build local maintenance capacities, for a period of 24 months from 1 August 2015 to 31 July 2017.

In doing so, the operation aims to concurrently improve access and travel times to and from agricultural production areas, further linking farmers to markets and providing economic incentives to increase production. It is expected mthat the rehabilitated roads will stimulate greater competition amongst economic traders to collect and transport food, which in turn will increase the farm-gate value of crops and encourage subsistence farmers to grow surplus for sale.

Through consultations between WFP, the Logistics Cluster and majorstakeholders, approximately 500km of roads have been identified for urgent repair and rehabilitation. 200km of the 500km roads were considered as highest priority in need of the most urgent rehabilitation valued at US$ 36.7 million. This operation, valued at US$ 22.8 million, will focus on the rehabilitation of 110km of the 200km roads. If donors show interest in this Special Operation and WFP is successful is resourcing the US$ 22.8 million; a Budget Revision will be undertaken to adjust upwards and rehabilitate the remaining 90km of high mpriority roads.