The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing a concerning situation, with nearly $91 million allocated for environmental projects currently suspended. At the center of this crisis is Benjamin Toirambe Bamoninga, the Secretary-General for Environment and Sustainable Development, and the Operational Focal Point of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). This block raises questions about fund management, government transparency, and administrative practices. However, what stands out is Toirambe’s attitude, which seems determined to block any progress on this issue, even at the cost of strained relations with international partners.
The GEF, a key player in funding environmental projects in developing countries, has allocated significant funds to the DRC. A total of $61.6 million has been allocated to 16 national projects, while $29.4 million is reserved for the ongoing eighth replenishment cycle. These funds were meant to support projects in crucial areas such as biodiversity conservation, addressing the negative impacts of climate change, and restoring degraded landscapes. However, according to allegations from some sector actors, these funds remain blocked, and access to these vital resources is hindered by administrative decisions, largely under the responsibility of Mr. Benjamin Toirambe. The fact that such important funding for the DRC’s sustainable development is being stalled raises concerns not only about the ability to manage these funds but also about the reasons behind this blockage.
International partners, responsible for funding these projects, have expressed their frustration with Benjamin Toirambe’s attitude. According to several sources close to the issue, Toirambe has deliberately ignored or boycotted communications via email, making any discussion or negotiation about releasing the funds almost impossible. This attitude seems to be accompanied by a systematic absence from meetings with partners, which were supposed to clarify the issues and move towards the implementation of the projects.In the interest of transparency, the editorial team of Kilalopress attempted to contact Mr. Benjamin Toirambe in order to provide him with the opportunity to present his version of the events regarding the accusations of blocking the funds. However, no response was received from him.
This lack of cooperation with partners and attempts to block discussions about the funding raise questions about Toirambe’s real motivations. It is hard to understand why a senior official responsible for managing the operations related to financing such essential projects for the country would refuse to engage with international stakeholders, especially when millions of dollars for the country are at stake.
According to analysts, this behavior could be due to a lack of mastery over the GEF mechanisms. Toirambe might currently find himself in an uncomfortable position where his lack of experience and understanding of the GEF processes is hindering access to funds. However, other theories suggest that this blockage could be due to more personal or strategic reasons. Some observers speculate that Toirambe may be interested in a share of the funding or may be trying to manipulate the situation for personal gain. If these allegations prove true, it would mean that he is deliberately blocking access to the funds in the hope of gaining direct profit, a hypothesis that, once confirmed, would be particularly serious.
It is also possible that the blockage of funds is partly related to the legacy of mismanagement by his predecessor, Mr. Katsuva, former Secretary-General for Environment and Sustainable Development, and Mr. Godefroid NDAUKILA, former Chief of the Sustainable Development Service (DDD) and current Chief of the Sanitation Service. Katsuva and Ndaukila had been criticized for their opaque practices and ineffective management. They were also accused of negotiating certain projects, setting up arrangements that favored private interests or clientelist relationships at the expense of transparency, efficiency, and the real impact of fund utilization. Toirambe was then appointed to rectify this situation, bringing, according to some, more rigor, speed, objectivity, and clarity. However, to this day, his failure to unblock the funds raises doubts about his ability to improve this management and distance himself from the opaque practices that had been criticized in the past.
In light of this situation, international partners are beginning to express growing concerns. They are calling for direct intervention by the highest authorities of the Congolese State, including Mrs. Eve Bazaiba Masudi, Minister of State for Environment and Sustainable Development, and even President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, to closely monitor this issue. It is becoming clear that the inaction of Congolese authorities could have grave consequences for GEF projects and funding, with some arguing that the DRC, which sees itself as a solution provider for climate change and biodiversity loss, may miss a crucial opportunity if this blockage continues.
Given that several eligible countries do not have access to GEF funding, it is ironic that the DRC, which has access, is on the verge of losing this opportunity. Partners are calling for government intervention to clarify the situation and push Mr. Toirambe to take the necessary measures to unblock these funds and start the implementation process for the benefit of nature and communities. This situation is even more concerning as it could tarnish the image of the Congolese government in the eyes of the international community, which is expecting concrete results and rigorous management of the resources allocated to the DRC.
For other stakeholders, the weakness of this mechanism, where the validation or funding of projects depends on a single public official (the focal point for climate finance institutions), without electoral mandate or eligibility constraints, represents an exorbitant power that should not be in the hands of just one individual. There is a call to improve this funding mechanism by involving a panel of various public officials, with anti-fraud and ethical oversight.
The blockage of these funds represents a delay that could have lasting consequences, jeopardizing the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the ongoing updates to the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). These funds are vital for environmental projects in the DRC, as well as for the country’s sustainable development. If Benjamin Toirambe persists in his behavior, the DRC may lose a golden opportunity to prove its effectiveness and commitment to moving away from public development aid towards a win-win partnership. The projects in question may never materialize, and the DRC could find itself in a position where it loses not only current funding but also the trust of international partners.
Immediate actions must be taken to clarify the situation, unblock these funds, and allow the DRC to implement the projects for which this funding was intended. The government must therefore closely monitor this issue and ensure that the country’s interests and the protection of its environmental resources take precedence over any other consideration.
By kilalopress
