Quarterly Report #8: DRC Power Sector Reform Project

The project was designed to implement the national Law on Electricity No. 14/011, promulgated on June 17, 2014, providing a blueprint for the Congolese power sector reform. Specifically, the Project was brought in to guide the reform process and manage operationalization of the regulatory authority and the rural electrification agency, as well as, the development of the legal and regulatory framework necessary for their functioning. By September 2017, the PSR Project delivered to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (GDRC) all the statutory elements required for the actual operationalization of both institutions, as well as, drafted and got validated by stakeholders 25 decrees, ministerial / inter-ministerial orders, and different regulatory instruments. However, during the second half of 2017 and in 2018, the GDRC was unable either to operationalize the new institutions or promulgate the new legal and regulatory framework. As a result, the activities of the PSR Project were refocused on implementation of specific power projects in selected provinces with any further reform activities to be continued only with respect to the needs of specific power projects supported in individual provinces. Consequently, over the first two quarters of 2018, the PSR Project progressively became fully focused on screening and identification of viable power projects and providing assistance to the selected projects' preparation and implementation. ECODIT implements the DRC Power Sector Reform Project through a project management team operating in Kinshasa on a full-time basis. The team includes one Key Personnel and one locally hired expert. The PSR Project draws short-term technical assistance (STTA) from a pool of international experts mobilized worldwide on an intermittent basis and as required by project needs. The project's management structure, modified in January 2018 to fit the needs of the new work approach, is illustrated by the chart in Exhibit 1. During the reporting period, PSR STTA and Home Office staff performed two missions to the DRC from outside of the country, as shown in Exhibit 2. The first mission, led by Mr. Paul Nickson, aimed to identify specific private power projects in the DRC, to which the PSR Project could provide technical assistance. The second mission, led by Mr. Paul Burman, focused on management of project level operational administrative responsibilities, streamlining of coordination between the home and field offices, and additional due diligence necessary to implement a potential Grant Under Contract (GUC) activity. On April 14 – 21, 2018, the Project Director executed a project management visit to the ECODIT Home Office in Washington, D.C. to review and streamline the project implementation in light of recent changes to the project's statement of work. During the second quarter of 2018, the PSR Project submitted to USAID reports listed in Exhibit 3. Throughout the reporting period, the PSR project continued providing USAID with updates on the project development and implementation issues through e-mail, telephone, and in-person meetings. The PSR Project's activities during the reporting period were focused on screening and identification of viable power projects and providing assistance to the selected projects' preparation and implementation. The project's management structure was modified in January 2018 to fit the needs of the new work approach, and the project team continued to provide technical assistance to the selected projects. The project's progress was monitored and reported to USAID through regular submissions of reports and updates on project development and implementation issues.