Solution description
The proposed innovative solution focuses on the production of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP), utilising resources provided by WFPs Rapid Rural Transformation (RRT) solar mini-grid (SMG) initiative in Inye village, Kinshasa. This initiative aims to enhance agricultural productivity, improve nutrition, and strengthen rural economic resilience by leveraging the multipurpose and nutritious OFSP with renewable energy for irrigation, digital tools, and smart farming techniques. The project seeks to prototype, test, and scale up a sustainable farming model for OFSP that combines climate-resilient crops, solar-powered irrigation, and community-driven resource management.
The main objectives of this project are to: (1) enhance food security and combat malnutrition through the production of Vitamin A-rich OFSP; (2) empower women’s farming cooperatives by integrating them into the OFSP value chain; (3) utilize renewable energy for sustainable agriculture; and (4) generate local economic opportunities by processing and commercializing OFSP products. The expected results include increased OFSP yields, improved nutrition through school feeding programs, enhanced income for local farmers, greater sustainability of the RRT mini grid through revenue reinvestment and strengthening climate resilience.
The project integrates various factors: (1) Technology – the use of solar-powered irrigation and smart agriculture tools; (2) Human resources – engagement of local farming cooperatives, community management committees (CMC), and agricultural trainers; (3) Beneficiaries – smallholder farmers, women’s cooperatives, schoolchildren, and local consumers; and (4) Financial aspects – a co-financed model where WFP seeks USD 40,000 from UNOSSC, complementing its own investment.
This initiative supports South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) by fostering agricultural knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and value chain development among developing countries. DRC farmers will adopt best practices from other regions, and the project will facilitate cross-border collaborations on climate-smart agriculture and food security. Additionally, the initiative strengthens policy dialogues and institutional capacity-building by engaging government and research institutions.
The impact of the project will be measured through key indicators such as OFSP yield per hectare, school meal program participation rates, household income levels, and soil fertility assessments. Market integration and economic growth will be tracked through revenue generated from OFSP sales, employment rates in farming cooperatives, and reinvestments in community infrastructure.
The OFSP project has high scalability and replicability potential. With six additional RRT SMG sites piloted by WFP, the project’s success at Inye can inform its expansion to the other SMGs. Furthermore, RRT SMGs are being aligned with the DRC’s Presidency’s flagship PDL-145 Territories Programme, positioning RRT for a nationwide rollout involving over 1000 SMGs, which would subsequently transform OFSP into a staple crop for sustainable rural development across the country.
Innovation alignment
The OFSP is a unique and innovative crop with significant benefits for agricultural productivity, climate resilience, and health. It is easy to cultivate, high-yielding, and can be grown year-round in warm regions, making it a reliable option for smallholder farmers. Its resilience to variable climatic conditions and ability to thrive with only organic fertilizers help improve and maintain soil health.
Nutritionally, OFSP is rich in Vitamin A, strengthens the immune system, and combats malnutrition, making it a valuable ingredient for school feeding programs and human capital development in rural areas. It provides sustained energy and can be incorporated into a wide range of foods, increasing both its nutritional impact and market profitability.
However, what makes this initiative particularly innovative is that OFSP production will be powered by a Rapid Rural Transformation (RRT) solar mini-grid (SMG). WFP is piloting seven SMGs as part of the RRT project across the country, including one in Inye village, on the peri-urban outskirts of Kinshasa, and the proposed location for the OFSP project. The SMG enables groundwater irrigation, access to digital tools and learning platforms, and therefore the use of smart agricultural technologies, all of which will be used on the adjacent community farm where the OFSP will be grown. The resources provided by the SMG will enable Inye’s RRT community management committee (CMC), operated by community members to encourage local ownership and project longevity, to ensure high agricultural productivity of the OFSP crop.
By leveraging the resources of the RRT SMG, the OFSP project will ensure even higher yields of a nutritious food for local consumption and as a source of local revenue. Profits generated will be reinvested into the community, fostering sustainable rural development alongside climate resilience.
The OFSP project directly supports multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). OFSP is a nutritious, high-yield crop that combats malnutrition and promotes sustainable farming, improving food security and climate-smart agriculture, which aligns with SDG 2. Additionally, the production of OFSP at the community farm will supply nutritious food to local schools, enhancing student health and learning outcomes, thereby contributing to SDG 4. Similar to the cassava project that received UNOSSC funding last year, women’s farming cooperatives will play a central role in OFSP production, empowering female farmers, boosting their incomes, and strengthening their role in the local economy, supporting SDG 5. Revenue from OFSP will also sustain the RRT solar mini-grid, and will support the expansion of renewable energy, in line with SDG 7. Finally, the project, led by the Minstry of Agriculture (MINAGRI) and the Ministry of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education (MEPST), and the National Network Of Rural Women’s Associations (RENAFER) with support from WFP, illustrates the projects commitment to collaborating with partners in efforts to find innovative catalysts for rural development, thus contributing to SDG 17.
WFP and partners plan to cultivate 1 hectare of OFSP on a community farm in Inye village, powered by an RRT SMG. WFP requests UNOSSC to co-fund USD 40,000 for agricultural inputs and processing equipment, with WFP contributing USD 49,474.
Solution impact
Introducing OFSP as an agricultural product as part of the RRT SMG project will have a positive economic, social, and environmental impact on Inye’s rural community.
From an economic perspective, the OFSP is a high-yielding, fast-growing, and versatile crop that can be harvested frequently and year-round, providing continuous income opportunities for farmers. Its ease of transport and storage will make it a reliable product to sell at market. Its versality and ability to be processed into value-added consumables such as flour, baked goods, and juices, will diversify income streams. The CMC will monitor the economic impact by tracking revenue from market sales, salaries paid to agricultural workers, and reinvestment from profits into community initiatives. This will provide a clear picture of how OFSP supports local job creation and economic self-sufficiency.
From a social perspective, OFSP’s high vitamin A and caloric content makes it a powerful tool against malnutrition, especially among children. Local schools incorporating OFSP into school meals will track attendance records, as improved nutrition is expected to lead to better student participation and overall well-being. Community-wide surveys will measure the perceived health benefits, recording whether households feel healthier and attribute this to dietary diversification. These metrics will also help assess human capital development, as improved nutrition contributes to better cognitive function and productivity.
From an Environmental perspective, OFSP is a low-input crop that can be grown year-round with minimal fertilizers, making it highly climate-resilient. Its adaptability to varied soil conditions and ability to grow with organic inputs reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers, and so it will contribute to the community’s overall soil health and therefore agricultural sustainability. The project can measure these environmental impacts through soil fertility assessments and improved land productivity over time.
Replicability / scalability
The OFSP project, powered by the RRT SMG at Inye, offers a highly replicable and scalable model for increasing agricultural productivity and climate resilience in rural DRC. As already highlighted, OFSP is a high-yield, climate-resilient crop that thrives all year-round, making it well-suited for expansion across multiple regions. Its ability to withstand droughts, grow in various soil conditions, and provide high nutritional value makes it an ideal crop for improving food security and economic opportunities in rural communities. It is also exceptionally easy to manage and easy for local farmers to adopt into their own agricultural activities.
Currently, there are six additional RRT SMG sites being piloted in the DRC by WFP that could readily adopt a tried-and-tested agricultural production plan for OFSP developed at Inye. Each site has the potential to scale OFSP farming, not only for local consumption but also for market-driven food production, transforming OFSP into value-added products like bread, flour, and biscuits. By leveraging the RRT’s renewable energy infrastructure, these sites could also support local food processing, reducing post-harvest losses while increasing market accessibility and OTSF value chain development for smallholder farmers.
Moreover, the RRT project is currently undergoing a strategic review to explore design modifications that could make scaling even easier. This would align RRT SMG with the PDL-145 Territories National Programme, a key policy under the DRC Presidency to bring about economic prosperity to rural areas. WFP have already had bilateral talks with the Ministry of Rural Development to discuss a nationwide project involving 1000 SMGs. Subsequently, there is not only the possibility of imminent scaling of the OFSP project to the other six SMGs, but a potential nationwide expansion, transforming OFSP into a staple agriculture product across rural DRC.
Cooperation potential
The OFSP project supports South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) through agricultural knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and collaborative problem-solving, advancing key areas like food security, nutrition, rural development, and value chain enhancement.
The project fosters technical collaboration through remote and on-site training programs, enabling DRC farmers to adopt climate-smart agricultural techniques that have been successfully implemented in other regions. By integrating OFSP production with sustainable irrigation methods, improved soil conservation techniques, and post-harvest management strategies, the initiative strengthens resilience to climate variability and enhances productivity. This ensures that best practices developed through SSTC networks are shared and adapted to local contexts.
Addressing the specific needs of SSTC in the region, the initiative focuses on leveraging OFSP as a key driver of food security and economic empowerment. The high nutritional value of OFSP, particularly its vitamin A content, makes it a strategic crop for combating malnutrition. Through SSTC-supported partnerships, knowledge on biofortification, processing techniques, and the development of value-added products such as OFSP-based flour, juice, and fortified snacks will be exchanged and adapted in DRC to enhance nutrition and diversify food sources.
Market integration is another critical component of this SSTC initiative. By linking DRC’s OFSP producers with regional and international partners, the project facilitates cross-border trade, knowledge-sharing on agribusiness development, and expansion of processing infrastructure. The creation of sustainable market linkages between OFSP farmers, processors, and institutional buyers such as school feeding programs strengthens local food systems while providing economic opportunities for smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth.
Furthermore, the initiative promotes policy dialogue and institutional capacity-building by working with government agencies, research institutions, and private sector actors. Through SSTC engagement, stakeholders in DRC will collaborate with counterparts from other regions to develop policies that support OFSP production, processing, and commercialisation. This strengthens agricultural policies that align with regional food security priorities and fosters long-term cooperation beyond national borders.
By connecting DRC’s OFSP efforts with regional SSTC networks, the initiative contributes to broader objectives of sustainable agriculture, economic self-sufficiency, and poverty alleviation. The cross-country collaboration enhances resilience, promotes technology adoption, and ensures that lessons learned from successful OFSP programs are effectively transferred, adapted, and scaled to benefit multiple regions through SSTC frameworks.
Territory coverage
Inye village, located in the Nsele municipality of Kinshasa, was established in 1983 and has a population of over 300. It has been led by six chiefs, with the current chief in office since 2015. The name “Inye,” meaning “fern,” reflects the village’s ethnic diversity, including groups such as the Yaka, Suku, Luba, Songue, Nteke, and Lngala. Matou village, founded in 1978, has around 250 residents and has had four chiefs, with the current one being a physician who resides off-site. Like Inye, Matou shares the same ethnic diversity. Both villages lack essential socio-community infrastructure, such as healthcare centers, markets, roads, and crop management systems. Agriculture, small trade, and motorcycle taxis are the main economic activities. Matou stands out for its fertile soil, ideal for cassava, sweet potatoes, gardening, and aquaculture. Teachers play a vital role in community life, supported by access to a cassava field that contributes to local dynamics.
Located 60 km east of Kinshasa, Inye is a peri-urban village in the Bateke Plateau, known for its fertile soil and reliance on small-scale farming and fishing. Despite its agricultural potential, poor infrastructure and limited services hinder economic growth and food security. As part of WFP’s Rapid Rural Transformation (RRT) solar mini-grid initiative, Inye benefits from renewable energy supporting irrigation, digital connectivity, and agricultural innovation. However, food insecurity and malnutrition remain prevalent, especially among children. Women’s farming cooperatives are vital to food production but need greater support, training, and market access to improve productivity and income.
Collaborators
The project will be driven by a dynamic and multidisciplinary team, combining diverse expertise to ensure success. It focuses on enhancing agricultural practices, particularly the cultivation of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, by integrating solar energy and water from RRT essential services. This innovative approach aims to strengthen local agricultural capacity, boost productivity, create economic opportunities, and promote sustainable rural development. By leveraging advanced methods, the project seeks to empower communities, foster resilience in farming, and contribute to food security and sustainability.
The team includes:
– Programme Policy Officer to lead, coordinate and oversee the implementation of project activities as well as integrating the RRT initiative into the project framework.
– School Feeding Program Officer to guide meal procurement and distribution while engaging the community
– The Ministry of Agriculture will provide targeted training to build community capacity, while the Ministry of Education will offer educational support to reinforce these efforts.
Together, this collaborative effort will effectively contribute to the overall goals of the project.
