Table 1 Roles and influence level of different actors in the agricultural policymaking process in DRC

President, parliament

They lead the national priorities, which in turn influence the budget allocation and disbursement to the different sectoral ministries and public services.

6

Donors

They provide support, through funding, advice, analytical work, technical assistance, and capacity-strengthening activities, among others. Due to limited local resource mobilization, the government relies heavily on donor funding. Given the lack of analytical capacity, the government relies on analytical work and advice from donors. The influence score assigned to donors vary by interviewees.

4–6

Ministry of Budget

It decides on actual budget allocation for the sector ministries.

5

Ministry of Finance

It sets priorities on actual budget disbursement.

4

MINAGRI

It coordinates the consultative process, design, drafting, implementation, and monitoring of policies, strategies, and plans for the agricultural sector; it leads the resource and political support mobilization.

4

Prime Minister

Together with the president, the prime minister leads the country and oversees national priority setting.

3

Ministry Planning

It sets the national economic plan that affects agricultural strategies, programs, and budget.

3

Federation of Private Enterprises (Federation des Enterprises du Congo, or FEC)

This serves as a forum for dialogue among larger private-sector firms and a platform for advocating their concerns, needs, and priorities to MINAGRI in particular and policy processes in general.

2

CARG

It is a platform for policy dialogues and discussions, sharing problems and jointly finding solutions, setting priorities and strategies at the local level, and advocating for local demands and needs at the national policy level.

1–2

MINRD, Ministry of Land, Ministry of Infrastructure, Ministry of Research, and others

MINRD is responsible for community development, rural roads/feeder roads, small rivers, rural water supply, and rural housing. All of these ministries provide inputs to policy design and lead the implementation of activities and programs specific to the ministries’ mandates.

1

International technical organizations (FAO, IFPRI, other CGIAR centers)

They provide technical support to the many functions of MINAGRI and other ministries.

1

Ministry of International Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

They facilitate and manage the international partnerships in DRC.

1

Universities (UNIKIN, University of Lubumbashi, University of Yangambi, and UCC)

They are tasked to provide research and technical advice on policy options. However, they are not currently linked to MINAGRI and other ministries or policy processes.

0

Agricultural education and training institutes

They are tasked to train educators, researchers, extension agents, and professionals to work for the sector (government, private sector, NGOs, etc.). However, they do not have a voice and direct engagement in the actual policy process.

0

COPEMECO and other national federations

They are tasked to represent the interest of small business, farmers’ organizations, and civil society at large. However, they do not have a voice in the actual policy decisions.

0