Background and objectives
The housing sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been neglected during the past thirty years.  Infrastructure has collapsed, and trained human resources in this sector are very limited.  The aim of the project is to support capacity-building and rehabilitation of the main infrastructures in the city of Kinshasa.  The project also supports preparation of a national action plan for housing development. 

Activities
The main components of the programme launched in April 1998 include studies for preparation of a national action plan for housing development by national and international consultants and national research and training institutions for rehabilitation of infrastructure and public buildings such as the Ministry of Housing, where the project is based, draining and cleaning out the Kalamu River in Kinshasa, which has destroyed houses and damaged the environment due to heavy sand banks, rehabilitation of vehicles belonging to the national environment programme and strengthening capacity-building and human resources development of the Ministry of Housing through institutional reforms and training.

Results
The project has prepared the national action plan on housing.  The Kalamu River has been drained, and additional resources have been requested to continue working.  Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Housing has been completed and is used by the project team.