The DRC is a country of 99 million people, of whom 70 percent face food insecurity, and 43 percent suffer from malnutrition. An estimated 42 percent of children under five are stunted, and 32 percent of preschool-age children are anemic. An estimated 61 percent of children under five have vitamin A deficiency.
COUNTRY MANAGER
Jean Pierre Mbagurire
C/O IITA – DRC, Kinshasa Office, Commune Gombe | Quartier Commerce | Avenue Haut Congo | No 4163
Tel: +243 71757501 (Country Manager)
+243 992600389 (Admin)
HarvestPlus works with multiple partners in the DRC to promote production and consumption of vitamin A cassava, vitamin A maize, and iron beans. Cassava is the most important staple food in the DRC, maize is the second most important, and beans are among the main staple food crops in the country.
Key partners include the National Institute of Agricultural Studies and Research (INERA) and the National Seed Service (SENASEM), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). In 2020, HarvestPlus began technical assistance to the government on the DRC Multisectoral Nutrition and Health Project (PMNS), a major biofortification capacity strengthening project funded by the World Bank.
Biofortified Crops in Democratic
Republic of Congo*
*Includes varieties shown to meet HarvestPlus standards. Other varieties may be available in the country.
Varieties Released Database
This searchable database provides information on all biofortified crops variety releases by country.
Areas of Expertise
- Crop Development
- Seed Production and Commercialisation
- Seed Distribution
- Value Addition
- Policy Engagement
Crop Development
HarvestPlus supports the National Institute of Agricultural Studies and Research (INERA) and the National Seed Service (SENASEM) to breed, test, and release varieties of vitamin A cassava and maize developed through our partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and iron beans developed through the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT).
Seed Production and Commercialisation
HarvestPlus works with private seed companies, farmers, non-governmental organizations, farmer producer organisations, state seed corporations and national seed corporations to develop quality-controlled seeds.
Seed Distribution
HarvestPlus DRC collaborates with key stakeholders for the distribution of seeds.
Value Addition
HarvestPlus is engaging with SME food companies and processors to create value-added products and build supply chains for biofortified crops.
Policy Engagement
HarvestPlus DRC is working on the inclusion of biofortified grains in government schemes to reach communities with nutritious crops.
DRC Multisectoral Nutrition and Health Project (PMNS)
HarvestPlus is the DRC Government’s technical assistance partner for biofortification in the PMNS. We help strengthen the capacities of ministries, public agencies, private sector actors, and NGO partners to develop sustainable supply chains for biofortified crop planting material; distribution channels and technical support for farmers; vibrant post-harvest markets for farmer’s harvests; and, supportive policies and regulations. The project is also prioritizing engagement and empowerment of women.
Funder: The World Bank
HarvestPlus Role: Provide technical assistance on a full value chain approach to embedding biofortification in the food system.
Focus Crops: Vitamin A maize, vitamin A cassava, iron bean
Biofortification News in the DRC
Building a Nutrition Smart Ecosystem in Fragile Contexts: Biofortification in the DRC
HarvestPlus leads the coordination of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s fast expanding biofortification program—an important example of how nutrition-smart agriculture can address persistent food and nutrition security challenges in fragile and underdeveloped market systems. One notable example is HarvestPlus’ technical assistance project supported by the Government of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the […]
Democratic Republic of Congo Advances Nutrition with National Standards for Biofortified Crops
Kinshasa — In a significant stride towards combating malnutrition, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has initiated the development of national standards for biofortified crops. On April 9, 2025, Secretary General for Industry, Jean-Parfait Ntabala Murhandikire, officially launched this initiative at the General Secretariat for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Kinshasa. HarvestPlus is collaborating […]
Multi-sectoral Nutrition Program Combats Violence Against Women and Children in the DRC
Sexual and gender-based violence (GBV) affects one in three women in their lifetime and is particularly common in fragile and conflict-affected states including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).Effectively decreasing violence against women and children requires approaches that push back against the social norms of gender roles and acceptability of violence and address other underlying […]
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Join a growing movement to expand the reach and impact of nutrient-enriched staple crops in DRC.
Contact Our DRC TeamHarvestPlus Partners
We have more than 35 partners in the public, private, NGO, and policy engagement sectors who share our mission to improve nutrition and lives of people in DRC.
View Partners List