Analysis of the functioning of the Local Development Fund (FDL) of the Pokola Community Development Series (Congo)

Abstract

This study aims to assess the functioning of the Local Development Fund (FDL) of the UFA Pokola Community Development Series in Congo. It is based on the documentary review, semi-structured interviews with resource persons, household managers as well as the holding of focus groups. The results indicate that the local communities and indigenous populations (CLPA) are involved in the management bodies of the Community Development Series, bodies responsible for the management of the FDL. This fund is mainly supplied by royalties from the exploitation of forest species, it is intended to finance the micro-projects of the CLPAs. As a result, he is well known to the CLPAs of UFA Pokola (81%). Between 2007 and 2016, the FDL mobilized 182,214,333 FCFA, including 145,274,472 FCFA, made it possible to finance nearly 69 micro-projects for the benefit of the CLPAs. Plant production remains the main sector where investments have been directed (64%). There is also a spatial disparity in the investments of the FDL, the commune of Pokola benefited from 54% of the funds invested. The natives have benefited little from the spin-offs of this mechanism for sharing the benefits of logging.