Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the second largest country in Africa and has a total population of 67.8 million people, of which 51% are women and 48% of the total population is below 15 years old. Despite being endowed with extraordinary natural resources, the DRC remains one of the poorest countries in the world, classified as 186th out of 187 countries on the Human Development Index (UNDP, 2010). Over 70% of the population lives below the poverty threshold.
Decades of armed conflict have led to the deaths of over 2 million civilians and estimates suggest over 1 million women have been raped. Though articles 5, 14, and 15 of the DRC constitution establish a legal basis for equality and equity policies, women currently occupy only 7.2% of positions at the highest level of decision-making at a national level in the parliament and government.
Up to 52% of women in DRC are survivors of domestic violence and 39% of Congolese women report having been threatened or injured. 27% of women in DRC are victims of harmful traditional practices. Early marriage is common, with 2007 reports indicating 39% of women in their early twenties were married or in a union before the age of 18.
Very few Congolese women have access to decent jobs, and in general women and girls have less access to education than men and boys, as well as higher rates of illiteracy.
UN Women DRC has a country office in the capital, Kinshasha, and a sub-office in Bakavu in South Kivu province.
Our Programmes
Gender-responsive planning and budgeting
In partnership with UNDP, we are enhancing the capacity of the DRC government to undertake gender-responsive planning and budgeting. We provide technical support to the government on gender mainstreaming in budget development processes; strengthen the capacity of various government departments on gender-responsive budgeting, and support national and provincial women’s organizations to monitor gender-related and women empowerment commitments, and action research on gender-responsive budgeting.
Ending violence against women and girls
We provide technical support to the Ministry of Gender for effective coordination and implementation of the national strategy on Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV), especially in the areas of communications and monitoring and evaluation. Our program supports the review process of family law to ensure alignment with international and regional conventions especially on the age of marriage as early marriage is widespread in the DRC.
Women, peace, and security
We support the Ministry of Gender to implement the government’s Resolution 1325 National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security. This includes supporting the establishment of the multi-donor trust fund; supporting conflict resolution action plans; supporting gender mainstreaming in peacekeeping operations and security sector reforms; supporting the capacity for female leaders/gender advocates to participate in formal peace processes and conflict resolution processes, and supporting women’s participation in post-conflict humanitarian processes.
Women’s political leadership and participation
We support implementing affirmative action favoring women’s access to decision-making positions through parity bills or special measures and encourage parliaments and political parties to understand the importance of female leadership and political participation. We strengthen the leadership skills of female parliamentarians, female academics, and young women leaders. We provide civic and voter education; favor recruitment of women for high placement on political party lists; monitor the minimum quota of 30% in the Electoral Administration and provide gender mainstreaming support of the electoral commission.
Women’s economic empowerment and female entrepreneurship
Reducing the economic vulnerability of women can contribute to the prevention of violence against women and girls. We provide technical assistance to government ministries to implement gender action plans; advocate for female entrepreneurs and farmers to access production and market and information and services and conduct small demonstration projects in eastern DRC. We also work with ministries to promote access to gender-sensitive infrastructure and services and support rural women, informal traders, and women entrepreneurs access to training and professional services.
Congo: Women challenged to take up more leadership roles
Entrepreneurs, traders, and business leaders coming from Rwanda, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Gabon, all shared their different experiences with leadership.
Adriana Talensi, Sivi Malukisa, and Daphnee Mayet told of their journeys full of challenges at the 3rd edition of the Biashara networking in Pointe-Noire, Congo.
“By being myself, by being a woman who works, a woman who knows what she wants to do. I am in a company I created in which I am the only investor. But in other businesses, I am associated with men. It is true that sometimes there are challenges, trying to impose on you, to impose on your qualities. I am the youngest and only woman. Indeed, sometimes it can be painful. There are so many myths: that the woman is weak, we must protect her… The woman needs us to think for her and tell her what to do. All we have to do is…As the panel’s theme said, impose yourself but gently. “To impose oneself through ideas,” said Sivi Malukisa, CEO, Manitech Congo.
I think that today Africans have understood the importance of consuming African goods.
Africa holds the world record for female entrepreneurship, with 27% of women entrepreneurs, according to the latest figures published by the International Solidarity Organization Women in Africa.
They represent half of the African population and produce 62% of the economic goods, with only 8.5% of women employees.
According to some women, Africa attracts and fascinates. For fashion designer Adriana Talansi, the continent is a true source of wealth that inspires on a global scale, especially in the field of fashion.
“I think that African fashion was really inspired by us, I assure you especially when I did the Dior exhibition, I saw John Galliano was inspired by us. I saw Masai-mara necklaces, and today Dolce Gabbana for her 2020 collection is in Raphia. I think that today the African has understood the importance of consuming African goods,’‘ said Adriana Talansi fashion designer/ founder, Talansi brand.
These enterprising women want to go further and they do not hide their ambitions, extending and varying their activities higher amidst enormous challenges.
Nevertheless, there has been a significant improvement in women’s access to decision-making positions. But the problem of accessing finance remains a challenge.
Educating Women about Climate Change - Democratic Republic of Congo
A group of women in the Democratic Republic of Congo is being mentored in efforts to plant and make use of a multi-purpose tree. “Mentoring Cycle to Grassroots Women From Communities of Bas-Fleuve” works with women to educate them about climate change, and help them find ways to adapt. Through the effort, women chose to cultivate a type of tree that performs various functions and has multiple uses.
Fast facts:
- 50 women in the pilot project each planted a tree that is now mature
- The goal of 250 women participating
- 5,000 trees are planned to be planted, helping sequester carbon from the atmosphere
The problem
People in the villages of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and in particular women, carry out subsistence livelihoods and don’t have many alternatives if the weather turns bad and ruins their crops. But climate change is making exactly that happen more often, which is increasing these people’s vulnerability.
The solution
This project is mentoring women in the DRC community of Kinsambaba to cultivate the Moringa oleifera tree, also known as the “miracle tree” or “tree of life.” The women themselves chose this species for cultivation, as they already used it to some extent. Moringa oleifera’s roots, leaves, pods, and seeds can be used for food, to produce oil, to make soap, and even to purify water. The pilot phase of the project had 50 women each plant a tree – those trees are now mature and giving back to the community.
Helping the planet
Planting trees helps sequester carbon from the atmosphere, combating further climate change. Trees also stabilize soil and help the earth to retain water, contributing to healthier ecosystems. That Moringa oleifera’s products require healthy, mature trees insures that communities will not cut down these useful resources.
Helping people
The trees provide a clear benefit to the community in all their potential uses: supplemental nutrition, cleaner, and safer water, and practical applications that have the potential to generate cash. Everyone benefits from a healthier natural environment, while the focus on women is helping them develop themselves individually and take on leadership roles. The community’s goal is to eventually earn enough money off the trees to build its own school for village children. Better education is a decisive step in further improving lives.
Spillover effect
The initial pilot project is planned to be scaled five times larger, to 250 participants. As the initial trees matured, women in the community returned to project coordinators for further mentoring. They’re now organizing small enterprises for the manufacture of soap and oil. The program is already a replication of another project, and another organization has plans to repeat it as well in a Madagascar community.