BRAZZAVILLE. The “Lisungi” social protection program, implemented by the government of the Republic of the Congo in partnership with the World Bank, directly covered over 171,000 beneficiaries during its operational period. This data was published in the program’s final report, completed at the end of February 2024.
According to official statistics, approximately 76,000 people benefited from conditional cash transfers. An additional 95,000 citizens received startup grants to establish a micro-enterprise. The program ran from 2015 to 2023 and covered all departments of the country.
Experts believe that the key outcome of “Lisungi” is not only the massive assistance provided to the population, but also the creation of an infrastructure that continues to operate after the project’s end. The Single Social Registry, the beneficiary verification system, and the digital payment platform via mobile money were transferred to the state and integrated into the National Social Safety Net Program.
“It is important that the mechanisms did not disappear with the end of the project,” they emphasize at the Ministry of Social Affairs. “Today, they are permanent instruments of public policy, backed by budgetary funding.”
Special attention was given to women in the program. According to the World Bank, 25,934 women received payments via mobile platforms, accounting for more than half of all conditional cash transfer recipients. Digital payments eliminated corruption risks and ensured the transparency of fund distribution.
In 2026, a new phase of social policy will be launched—the Social Protection and Productive Inclusion Project for Youth (PSIPJ). It will utilize the infrastructure created by “Lisungi” to train and support tens of thousands of young Congolese.