The Water, Electricity, and Urban Development Project for the Republic of Congo was introduced by the World Bank in March 25th, 2010 and plans to continue until end of 2020. Since it is run by the World Bank, it is an international development project which intends to develop the urban structure, the infrastructure, and accessibility to water in two cities of the Republic of Congo. In order to achieve this, the project gives financial support to construction and rehabilitation of water resources and basic services in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire. Moreover, improvement of urban facilities and financial performance of urban water services will be increased and at the end of the project and a sufficient financial sustainability of the urban sector will be ensured (2010, World Bank). Three main focuses of the project are improving the infrastructure of two cities, maintaining water sector, and giving strength to institutional capacities. The project takes place in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire, and the target is the population of these two cities.

Before explaining the project in detail, it is important to highlight the importance of the country. The Republic of Congo has very precious mineral resources such as crude oil, gold, and copper. Also, Congo has a very big potential for hydroelectricity. It could generate nearly one-eighth of global capacity and half of Africa’s potential capacity since it has large river basins. Moreover, forests, coal and petroleum deposits of the country could be used to generate thermal energy. However, these natural resources could not be used because of many different reasons. The Republic of Congo has a complex historical background which begins with French colonial rule and continues with the decolonization period. Congo was a colony of France which was extracted and exploited for a long time, they gained their independence in 1960. Despite the great potential of the country, that potential cannot be achived because of internal conflicts and political instability. Africa’s World War, which took place in the 1990’s, played a significant role in creating political-conflict issues. Aside from internal conflicts and political instability, as a Third World Country, Congo lacks the necessary infrastructure development to efficiently use their natural resources. As a matter of fact, the World Bank wants to build an appropriate infrastructure system in order to use the country’s potential effectively and develop its urban areas.

First focus of the project is the urban infrastructure. In order to improve the local infrastructure, several activities such as improving sanitation, restoration and installation of new water pipes, construction of schools and health facilities, and reconstruction of roads and drainage networks had been proposed. The Second focus is maintenance of the water sector. Since people are not able to access safe drinking water because of insufficient service deliveries, it threatens their health which is a big problem that needs to be resolved. Third aim of the project is to make sure that government plans and manages investments and, finances the program appropriately. Even though the Republic of Congo’s energy resources are enormous, it does not provide enough access to electricity which leads to low levels of energy consumption. Moreover, the poor infrastructure system keeps down the hydroelectric and thermal power stations’ production. In order to straighten this, the government needs to finance and canalize their investments properly which is the third component of the project: institutional strengthening (2010, World Bank).

Even if the project is still in progress, it would not be wrong to conclude that it is working. The expected committed amount was 25.50 million US$ and the total project cost is 125.50 million US$. I described the components and aims of the project above, now I would like to turn my focus on the consequences of the program. According to December 15th 2016 data[1] the number of people who could access Improved Water Sources has been increased to 395,000, the number of people who could access to the improved health facilities has been increased to 67,000 and the number of children who could access improved school facilities had been increased to 7,200. However, there were some unexpected natural effects. For instance, 6,000 square meter area has eroded according to September 28th, 2018 data.[2] Even though the process is slow, and some unexpected problems occurred, the aims of project are being carried out.

Nonetheless, the project only focuses on two cities of the Republic of Congo which is problematic. More than half of the population of the Republic of Congo live in rural areas and they do not have access to clean water resources and the aim of the project would resolve rural area problems perfectly. On the other hand, due to internal conflict and water accessibility problems, majority of the population is suffering from hunger. The other reason of hunger is government’s wrong investments in agriculture and infrastructure which is one of the components that project mentions and wants to solve. As a matter of fact, many communities are impoverished, and poverty is visible in the country. In respect to projects goals, the problems of the Republic of Congo would continue if the projects do not focus on rural areas as much as they focus on urban areas. By the reason of micro-level focus, even if the project is successful, poverty and hunger would remain and would not solve the real problems of the Republic of Congo, just assists and contributes a little.

Considering the Republic of Congo was a colony of France and gained its independence in 1960, the country has experienced a tough decolonization period. The World Bank determined the priorities of the Third World Countries in the decolonization period and funding was generally used in transportation and electric power system as it is seen in The Water, Electricity, and Urban Development Project for the Republic of Congo. The ingredients of the development project for Third World Countries were, promoting industrialization and international aid (Bretton Woods) which is funded by the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund. As Walt Whitman Rostow writes, traditional countries go through 5 steps on the road to modernization. The first step is ‘‘traditional stage’’ where economy is based on agriculture and very little industrial production with low quality products. The second step is ‘‘pre-condition for take-off’’ which requires external funding for building infrastructure. Infrastructure is the base of improvement and Third World Countries generally lack it. The third step is the ‘‘take-off’’ itself, it is the introduction phase of economic growth. In take-off, industry gains importance in the economy and productive investments take place but still external finance would be needed. ‘‘Drive to maturity’’ is the fourth stage where technology improves, consumer demands rise, national income increases, and infrastructure is being replaced. The fifth stage is ‘‘age of mass consumption’’ where accumulation of wealth takes place and society becomes available to spend money on goods and services (1959, Rostow). After all, the project is associated with Modernization Theory since the project’s targets are directly related with Rostow’s arguments. In spite of all, the project is still active and even though the real problems of Republic of Congo would not be eradicated, the project accomplished its goals and still continues.

The Water, Electricity, and Urban Development Project for the Republic of Congo was introduced by the World Bank in March 25th, 2010 and plans to continue until end of 2020. Since it is run by the World Bank, it is an international development project which intends to develop the urban structure, the infrastructure, and accessibility to water in two cities of the Republic of Congo. In order to achieve this, the project gives financial support to construction and rehabilitation of water resources and basic services in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire. Moreover, improvement of urban facilities and financial performance of urban water services will be increased and at the end of the project and a sufficient financial sustainability of the urban sector will be ensured (2010, World Bank). Three main focuses of the project are improving the infrastructure of two cities, maintaining water sector, and giving strength to institutional capacities. The project takes place in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire, and the target is the population of these two cities.

Before explaining the project in detail, it is important to highlight the importance of the country. The Republic of Congo has very precious mineral resources such as crude oil, gold, and copper. Also, Congo has a very big potential for hydroelectricity. It could generate nearly one-eighth of global capacity and half of Africa’s potential capacity since it has large river basins. Moreover, forests, coal and petroleum deposits of the country could be used to generate thermal energy. However, these natural resources could not be used because of many different reasons. The Republic of Congo has a complex historical background which begins with French colonial rule and continues with the decolonization period. Congo was a colony of France which was extracted and exploited for a long time, they gained their independence in 1960. Despite the great potential of the country, that potential cannot be achived because of internal conflicts and political instability. Africa’s World War, which took place in the 1990’s, played a significant role in creating political-conflict issues. Aside from internal conflicts and political instability, as a Third World Country, Congo lacks the necessary infrastructure development to efficiently use their natural resources. As a matter of fact, the World Bank wants to build an appropriate infrastructure system in order to use the country’s potential effectively and develop its urban areas.

First focus of the project is the urban infrastructure. In order to improve the local infrastructure, several activities such as improving sanitation, restoration and installation of new water pipes, construction of schools and health facilities, and reconstruction of roads and drainage networks had been proposed. The Second focus is maintenance of the water sector. Since people are not able to access safe drinking water because of insufficient service deliveries, it threatens their health which is a big problem that needs to be resolved. Third aim of the project is to make sure that government plans and manages investments and, finances the program appropriately. Even though the Republic of Congo’s energy resources are enormous, it does not provide enough access to electricity which leads to low levels of energy consumption. Moreover, the poor infrastructure system keeps down the hydroelectric and thermal power stations’ production. In order to straighten this, the government needs to finance and canalize their investments properly which is the third component of the project: institutional strengthening (2010, World Bank).

Even if the project is still in progress, it would not be wrong to conclude that it is working. The expected committed amount was 25.50 million US$ and the total project cost is 125.50 million US$. I described the components and aims of the project above, now I would like to turn my focus on the consequences of the program. According to December 15th 2016 data[1] the number of people who could access Improved Water Sources has been increased to 395,000, the number of people who could access to the improved health facilities has been increased to 67,000 and the number of children who could access improved school facilities had been increased to 7,200. However, there were some unexpected natural effects. For instance, 6,000 square meter area has eroded according to September 28th, 2018 data.[2] Even though the process is slow, and some unexpected problems occurred, the aims of project are being carried out.

Nonetheless, the project only focuses on two cities of the Republic of Congo which is problematic. More than half of the population of the Republic of Congo live in rural areas and they do not have access to clean water resources and the aim of the project would resolve rural area problems perfectly. On the other hand, due to internal conflict and water accessibility problems, majority of the population is suffering from hunger. The other reason of hunger is government’s wrong investments in agriculture and infrastructure which is one of the components that project mentions and wants to solve. As a matter of fact, many communities are impoverished, and poverty is visible in the country. In respect to projects goals, the problems of the Republic of Congo would continue if the projects do not focus on rural areas as much as they focus on urban areas. By the reason of micro-level focus, even if the project is successful, poverty and hunger would remain and would not solve the real problems of the Republic of Congo, just assists and contributes a little.

Considering the Republic of Congo was a colony of France and gained its independence in 1960, the country has experienced a tough decolonization period. The World Bank determined the priorities of the Third World Countries in the decolonization period and funding was generally used in transportation and electric power system as it is seen in The Water, Electricity, and Urban Development Project for the Republic of Congo. The ingredients of the development project for Third World Countries were, promoting industrialization and international aid (Bretton Woods) which is funded by the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund. As Walt Whitman Rostow writes, traditional countries go through 5 steps on the road to modernization. The first step is ‘‘traditional stage’’ where economy is based on agriculture and very little industrial production with low quality products. The second step is ‘‘pre-condition for take-off’’ which requires external funding for building infrastructure. Infrastructure is the base of improvement and Third World Countries generally lack it. The third step is the ‘‘take-off’’ itself, it is the introduction phase of economic growth. In take-off, industry gains importance in the economy and productive investments take place but still external finance would be needed. ‘‘Drive to maturity’’ is the fourth stage where technology improves, consumer demands rise, national income increases, and infrastructure is being replaced. The fifth stage is ‘‘age of mass consumption’’ where accumulation of wealth takes place and society becomes available to spend money on goods and services (1959, Rostow). After all, the project is associated with Modernization Theory since the project’s targets are directly related with Rostow’s arguments. In spite of all, the project is still active and even though the real problems of Republic of Congo would not be eradicated, the project accomplished its goals and still continues.