Tuesday, September 6, 2022, Washington, U.S. – The United States government announced an additional $13 million in electoral assistance, in addition to its current $10.65 million, to promote transparent, credible, and inclusive political processes in the support the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This $3 million from USAID’s Complex Crises Fund and $1 million in new funding from the State Department’s Africa Regional Democracy Fund will enhance international and local observation of the 2023 presidential and legislative elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo through qualified, support impartial observers.
Timely and accurate reporting of the DRC’s electoral process by independent, impartial observers will help citizens understand, participate in and trust the elections. The Biden-Harris administration welcomes President Tshisekedi’s commitment, reaffirmed at the Democracy Summit, to holding the elections on time and his invitation for election observers. Support for strengthened elections and political processes will contribute to freer, fairer and more inclusive elections in the DRC and further establish a culture of democratic electoral reform.
The United States has also provided an additional $7 million to strengthen voter education, support inclusive and peaceful electoral processes, counter disinformation, and provide technical assistance ahead of the 2023 elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
These funds come in addition to USAID’s existing $9 million electoral integrity activity in the DRC, which will support the DRC’s Independent National Electoral Commission and civil society organizations through November 2024. This activity trains, coaches and develops organizational resources for election staff and workers, provides post-election observation and analysis. USAID also supports civil society organizations in providing civic education and increasing the participation of women, youth and marginalized communities in electoral processes, and assists civil society and the media in their efforts to raise awareness and counteract misinformation about elections and political processes.
The United States will continue to work in partnership with the Congolese people as they prepare to participate in transparent, credible, and inclusive elections to select their national leaders.
USAID is the international development agency of the United States government. USAID’s Democracy, Human Rights and Governance programs in the DRC work in partnership with the Congolese people to develop democratic systems, empower civil society to participate in governance, support the media and free press, protect human rights to promote and strengthen public finance management and rule of law to fight corruption. USAID’s Democracy, Human Rights and Governance staff also work across the USAID portfolio to ensure that investments in other development sectors integrate democratic principles of governance.
For the latest updates on USAID’s programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, visit: https://www.usaid.gov/democratic-republic-congo
From the US Embassy Kinshasa | September 6, 2022 | Topics: News, Press Releases | Tags: cooperation, democracy, elections, US-DRC partnership, USAID
