When Government Works: Celebrating the Officials Who Unlock Investment

Private sector leaders and investors often dominate economic headlines. But behind every successful mining project or agricultural park, there is a public official who approved the permit, streamlined the customs process, or drafted the regulation that made it possible. The Public Sector Leadership & Reform Award at the DRC Elite Awards is designed to recognise these often‑unsung heroes—the ministers, governors, and civil servants who are driving tangible improvements in the ease of doing business.

Why is this category so important? Because the DRC has historically ranked poorly on global governance indices. Changing that perception requires systematic reform, and those reforms are led by people. Recent examples include the Ministry of Finance’s work on a USD 270 million cross‑border power link with Zambia, which required complex negotiations and regulatory harmonisation. Or the provincial government of Lualaba, under Governor Fifi Masuka Saini, actively positioning the province as a strategic mining and logistics hub. Or the national agency that cut the time to register a new agricultural business from 30 days to just 10.

The Public Sector Leadership award is not a political endorsement. It is an evidence‑based recognition of an official or institution that has spearheaded transformative reforms, improved transparency, and fostered an environment where local and international investment can thrive. Judging criteria include measurable changes in processing times, new investment attracted, anti‑corruption measures introduced, and stakeholder satisfaction surveys.

Nominating a public official for this award is a powerful gesture. It encourages good governance by showing that reformers are appreciated, not attacked. It also sets a benchmark for other officials to emulate. The awards programme, organised under the DRC Investment Forum, ensures that winners are vetted by an independent panel that includes private sector representatives, ensuring credibility.

When a minister or director general receives this award at the gala dinner, it signals a new compact between government and business: we are all in this together. That is the kind of partnership that builds a nation.

Winners will be announced during the Gala Dinner on 28 August 2026 at the DRC Investment Forum. Entries close 30 May 2026. For more information or to nominate a public sector leader, click here: https://www.drcinvestforum.com/awards