As food and nutrition insecurity threatens over 455,000 people in the Republic of Congo, the government is turning to an unlikely ally in the fight against hunger: e-commerce.
With only 4% of arable land under cultivation and limited rural infrastructure to connect farmers to markets, the country is exploring digital solutions to modernize its food systems and deliver fresh produce to the people who need it most.
Tech Meets Agriculture: A Mission to Connect the Dots
From June 30 to July 4, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) teamed up with Congo’s Ministry of Trade for a high-level fact-finding mission in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire.
Their goal? To explore how mobile payments, online marketplaces, and digital platforms can streamline the movement of food—from farm to table—and close the gap between rural producers and urban consumers.
“Food products are highly perishable and require specialized infrastructure,” said Simone Assah Kuete of the ECA. “Without cold chains and efficient logistics, food quality—and access—suffers.”
Nearly 200 Voices in the Room
The mission brought together a powerful mix of stakeholders:
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Ministers from Trade, Agriculture, and SMEs
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Officials from Telecommunications and Digital Economy
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Leaders from MTN, Airtel, and top commercial banks
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UN agencies like FAO, WFP, and the Resident Coordinator’s Office
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Local agribusinesses and digital startups
The event formed part of the ECA’s flagship initiative, “Innovative Digital Trade under the AfCFTA,” which promotes tech-driven trade solutions across Africa.
The Pain Points—and the Potential
Stakeholders didn’t shy away from naming the challenges:
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Lack of cold-chain logistics for perishables
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Weak digital infrastructure and payment systems
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Policy and skills gaps slowing adoption of new technologies
But they also highlighted clear opportunities—like tapping into national staple foods with e-commerce potential, and scaling up promising partnerships with mobile operators and banks to enable secure mobile payments for farmers.
What Happens Next?
With momentum building, the government and ECA plan to craft a digital food commerce roadmap that includes:
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Pilot platforms to connect farmers and buyers
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Policy reforms to support digital trade
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Public-private partnerships to drive investment
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Training and support for smallholder farmers and MSMEs
Why It Matters
This initiative is more than a tech experiment—it’s a serious step toward achieving the African Union’s Zero Hunger goal for 2025 and the UN’s 2030 Agenda to end hunger.
By embracing e-commerce and digital payments, the Republic of Congo hopes to:
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Reduce post-harvest losses
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Expand market access
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Empower small farmers
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Promote intra-African trade under AfCFTA
And while digital tools won’t instantly fix deep-rooted infrastructure problems, they can act as a catalyst—cutting out middlemen, speeding up transactions, and integrating the country’s fragmented food markets.
The Road Ahead
In the months to come, keep an eye out for updates as the Republic of Congo turns its digital vision into action—with pilot launches, funding plans, and regulatory reforms likely to shape the next chapter in its fight against hunger.
This initiative reflects a broader continental shift: Africa is betting on innovation—not just aid—to secure its food future.