Boosting forest value chains, supporting over 500 SMEs, and improving livelihoods for forest-dependent communities
WASHINGTON, March 31, 2026 - The World Bank Group today approved a new operation that will transform forest economies in Central Africa. The International Development Association (IDA)-funded Sustainable Congo Basin Forest Economies Program (SCBFEP) -$394.83 million for Phase 1-, will improve forest management, strengthen forest value chains, and will generate 220,000 jobs across the Republic of Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), and the Republic of Congo (RoC). This first phase forms part of a larger $1.02 billion multi-phase program to unlock economic, climate, and livelihood benefits from the world's second-largest tropical forest biome, demonstrating that sustainable economic development and forest stewardship can, and must, go hand in hand.
This next generation of forest investments moves decisively beyond a conservation-only approach, building the economic conditions that make forest stewardship sustainable. Marginalized communities, indigenous peoples, and forest-dependent communities stand at the heart of the program. During its initial phase, nearly 8 million hectares will be placed under sustainable management. The program will reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 17.6 million tCO2e and increase the share of legally processed wood by 15%, while supporting community forest enterprises, agroforestry systems, and SME processing zones. More than 500 SMEs and 20,000 people - 40% of them women - will gain access to training, finance, and value chain infrastructure, while over 7,000 youth will be supported into entrepreneurship. These will unlock real jobs and real economic opportunities for the 60 million people living in and around the Congo Basin who have long been bypassed by growth.
"This new program marks a milestone for the Congo Basin, where sustainable forest economies create jobs, raise incomes, and strengthen resilience for millions of people," says Chakib Jenane, World Bank Regional Director for Planet. "By scaling legal wood production, improving governance, and investing in skills and enterprise growth, countries can unlock inclusive and sustainable prosperity."
The program adopts a strong regional approach by supporting coordinated investments across the three participating countries, while leveraging the mandates of key regional institutions such as the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) and the Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC) to harmonize forest policies and strengthen cross‑border governance.
"The Congo Basin is a shared resource, and its sustainability depends on coordinated policies and close regional cooperation," declares Marina Wes, Acting World Bank Director for Regional Programs. "By strengthening regional institutions, the program improves wood trade standards and create a powerful platform for learning and collaboration across the Basin."
The new initiative aligns directly with the Global Challenge Program on Forests for Development, Climate, and Biodiversity, while supporting participating countries' national development strategies and regional commitments, as well as their climate objectives. With strong potential to expand carbon market opportunities and mobilize long-term private sector investment in sustainable forestry, it offers a replicable model for how job creation, shared prosperity, and forest economies can advance together.
