83342
                                           Democratic Republic of Congo
                                  Public Service Reform and Rejuvenation Project

                                                               Chair Summary

                                              Meeting of the Executive Directors

                                                           December 12, 2013

    Executive Directors considered the President’s Memorandum and Recommendation and
approved an IDA grant in the amount of SDR50.2 million (US$77 million equivalent)
(IDA/R2013-0287) to the Democratic Republic of Congo for a Public Service Reform and
Rejuvenation Project under the payment terms and conditions set out therein.

     The Directors welcomed the Bank’s support for government efforts to create an effective
and functioning public administration needed as a foundation for sustained growth, poverty
reduction and shared prosperity in DRC. Directors highlighted that the project would be key to
implementing the strategic objectives of increasing state effectiveness and improving good
governance, as defined in the recently endorsed World Bank Group’s Country Assistance
Strategy for FY2013-2016.

     Directors underscored the challenges related to the country’s fragile environment, and the
dynamic national and regional situation. They noted that this requires a gradual incremental
approach, with flexibility and adaptability in the design and implementation of the project.
Directors also noted the risks inherent in this operation, including risks related to the payment of
retirement benefits, and urged the authorities and the Bank to prioritize fiduciary oversight across
all of the project’s components. In this regard, they highlighted the importance of strong
governance and sequencing of reform efforts.

     Directors also noted that the achievement of the project’s development objectives requires
sustained political leadership as well as long-term financial commitments to ensure that adequate
resources are made available for the implementation of the subsequent phases of the public
service reform program. Directors noted that retaining a cohort of talented young professionals
into the public administration remains a serious challenge, and recommended that the
government and the Bank capitalize on lessons learned from other countries and adopt
innovative solutions to mitigate the risk of ‘brain drain’.

    Finally, Directors underscored the need for continued close collaboration among
development partners and emphasized the need for strong coordinated supervision during project
implementation.




                                                            
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  This summary is not an approved record.