30 August 2013: The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been awarded a US$21.5 million grant from the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) to contribute to the sustainable management of its forest sector to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and strengthen forest governance.

AfDB will provide implementation support to the project over the next five years, which is expected to save over four million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

According to the AfDB, the grant is for implementation of the Integrated REDD+ Project in the Mbuji-Mayi/Kananga and Kisangani Basins (PIREDD/MBKISS), which involves a series of pilot initiatives to help reduce forest greenhouse gas emissions and poverty in large swaths of degraded savannah and closed forest areas. AfDB says an estimated 400,000 people will directly benefit from project activities, which will focus on GHG reduction, land tenure and food security. Co-benefits include the better use of biodiversity, water, soil and forest resources by local communities, as well as job creation, enhanced health and promotion of gender equality. [AfBD Press Release]