Republic of Congo Invests $60 Million to Build Urban Resilience in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire
Congo, Brazzaville
Floods and erosion have become yearly nightmares in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire — washing away roads, displacing families and draining city budgets. Now, a new World Bank–backed $60 million project aims to turn that tide.
The Strengthening Urban Resilience Project, approved in late October 2025, will reinforce drainage networks, protect riverbanks and expand green infrastructure across the Republic of Congo’s two largest cities.
From disaster recovery to risk prevention
Over the last decade, Brazzaville’s hillsides have suffered multiple collapses after intense rainfall, while Pointe-Noire’s low-lying coastal districts face chronic flooding.
“This is a shift from cleaning up after the storm to preparing before it hits,”
says Catherine N’Goma, the project’s local coordinator at the Ministry of Environment.
The initiative will integrate erosion-control works, sustainable drainage systems, community-led adaptation projects and early-warning infrastructure.
Building greener, safer neighbourhoods
About 700,000 residents are expected to benefit directly through new drainage and slope-stabilisation projects. The plan also funds urban green belts to reduce runoff, and creates jobs for youth in local construction and maintenance — linking climate adaptation with livelihoods.
The project is co-financed by the Global Center on Adaptation and aligns with the country’s national Vision 2030 plan for sustainable development.
🌍 Urban resilience as an investment model
Urban planners across Central Africa are watching closely. Many secondary cities face similar erosion and flood risks but lack financing. The Congolese approach — combining climate risk analysis, community participation and international funding — could become a regional blueprint.
“We want resilience to become routine, not an emergency,” N’Goma adds. “Every drain we build is a promise that the next generation won’t relive this cycle.”
📊 Project Highlights
Funding: USD 60 million (World Bank + Global Center on Adaptation)
Cities: Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire
Focus: Erosion control, flood prevention, climate-resilient infrastructure
Beneficiaries: ~700 000 urban residents
Timeline: 2025–2030
