Ensuring the effective implementation of competition and consumer protection policies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

UNCTAD is assisting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to finalize the establishment of the legal and institutional framework for implementing the national policy of competition and consumer protection in the DRC.

This technical cooperation project for the DRC is a follow-up to the trade and economic integration programme financed by the European Union (EU) for the Central African Economic and Monetary Community – CEMAC / Cameroon, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sao Tomé e Principe.

The completed project aimed to support the implementation of the CEMAC competition authority and the national competition structures of the beneficiary states, as well as to put in place a system to ensure consumer protection.

The assistance provided to the DRC during this project resulted in the drafting of a consumer protection bill and the finalization of the competition law.

This self-financed phase aims to develop a three-year plan to consolidate institutional and regulatory frameworks to promote competition and consumer protection in the DRC.

Objectives:

Assessing the legal and institutional framework for competition and consumer protection.
Designing a program for the operationalization of the Competition Authority, including training high-level officers and operational staff, conducting studies and sectoral surveys, advocacy and awareness raising campaigns and establishing partnership frameworks with more experienced competition authorities.
Mapping strategic sectors for a competitive economy in the DRC.