The Democratic Republic of Congo is undergoing a remarkable transformation in the Kasaï provinces, where water and health centres are changing lives, improving health, and restoring hope to millions of families.
What once seemed a distant dream is now a reality, thanks to sustained investment in socioeconomic infrastructure by the African Development Bank and its partners.
For decades, communities in Kasaï lived with painful compromises. Families drank unsafe water, children studied in overcrowded huts, and villagers relied on fragile health centres made from mud and straw.
Poor road networks left towns isolated, and preventable diseases were widespread. “We used to drink water that was full of germs, which caused a lot of suffering for all of us,” recalls Papa Mutombo Tambwe, from Tshilenge in eastern Kasaï.
The Start of Change
Change began more than a decade ago when the Project for the Reinforcement of Socioeconomic Infrastructure (PRISE) launched its first phase in 2013.
Financed by the African Development Fund with $161.46 million, PRISE I built 60 schools, 60 health centres, 504 latrines, and 60 drinking water supply systems across Tshikapa, Mbuji-Mayi, and rural communities in five provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
For the first time, thousands of families were able to access safe water, send their children to decent schools, and seek treatment in clean, modern facilities.
“Today, the Tshibumba health centre is new, clean and welcoming. We come here with confidence because it now gives us the chance to live healthier lives,” says Ms. Mulanga Ntambwe.
Encouraged by these results, the Congolese government and the African Development Bank expanded the initiative with the goal of achieving national coverage.
PRISE II: Expanding Impact in Kasaï
The second phase of the project, PRISE II, is now making a lasting difference in the three Kasaï provinces, home to more than eight million people—around 12% of the population of the Democratic Republic of Congo. With a budget of $69.74 million, 95% financed by the African Development Fund, PRISE II has delivered impressive progress:
22 new water supply systems under construction
41 schools being built or completed
40 health centres operational or near completion
88 modern latrines to improve hygiene
Already, almost 75% of the work has been completed, and the transformation is tangible. “Tap water is very different from water from the forest. It is nearby, clean, and we are relieved,” says Ntshila Muswamba, a mother from Mikalayi in Central Kasaï, smiling as she lifts a bucket of clear water.
Beyond Infrastructure: Jobs and Skills
The project is not just about buildings and water systems; it is also about opportunity. More than 2,200 permanent jobs have been created so far, with two-thirds held by women. Local youth are being trained as plumbers, construction workers, and community organizers. Families are adopting new hygiene habits, and communities are learning how to manage and maintain their own water supply systems.
In the face of climate change and recurring health challenges, these social and economic skills are just as important as the physical infrastructure. They ensure sustainability and resilience, preparing communities to thrive well into the future.
A Promise of Dignity and Hope
For the people of Kasaï, the arrival of water and health centres means more than convenience—it represents dignity. Mothers no longer fear losing children to waterborne diseases. Young girls, who once spent hours fetching unsafe water, now attend school. Families can trust their local health centres for safe treatment.
The African Development Bank Group, working alongside the Congolese government, sees this as a model for development that is inclusive, sustainable, and transformative. It’s not only about numbers and structures; it’s about people. Every tap installed, every classroom built, and every health centre opened tells a story of collective progress and resilience.
“This is more than infrastructure—it’s about lives being transformed. In the Kasaï provinces, we see what development means when it touches every family,” an official from the Bank noted.
The vision is ambitious: to scale these gains nationwide so that every province in the Democratic Republic of Congo enjoys access to clean water, quality healthcare, and safe schools.
With continued partnership between the Congolese government, development agencies, and local communities, the dream of a healthier, more dignified future for millions is within reach.
The story of Kasaï is proof that investment in water and health centres is more than charity—it is a foundation for sustainable development.
It reduces disease, boosts education, creates jobs, and builds social cohesion. Most importantly, it restores hope and dignity to communities that have waited for too long.
As the project advances, the people of Kasaï can finally say with pride that the future is not only coming—it is already here.
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