Country Factsheet
Congo, Dem. Rep.
This factsheet provides an overview of economic inclusion programs in Congo, Dem. Rep.. Economic inclusion programs are a bundle of coordinated, multidimensional interventions that support individuals, households, and communities in raising their incomes and building their assets. The data used for this factsheet comes from the Partnership for Economic Inclusion’s Landscape Survey 2023.
Country Facts
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Population
95.89 million
Income Group
Low income
FCV country (WB FY24 list)
Yes
Poverty Headcount (share of population below the poverty line)
National Poverty Line
63.90%
Multidimensional Poverty Index
64.52%
$2.15/day (2017 PPP)
69.70%
Programs
Number of economic inclusion programs
12Institutional delivery (lead agency)
- Nongovernment-led
- Government-led
Geographic area
- Rural only
- Urban/peri
- Mix (urban & rural)
Participants
Number of participants
68,383Number of people benefiting
362,571Participants served by government-led programs (%)
34.32%Main Program Objectives
Wage employment
Self-employment
Income diversification
Productivity
Food security
Market access
Women's empowerment
Social inclusion
Social cohesion
Financial inclusion
Social services
Climate resilience
- More than 2/3 of programs
- Between 1/3 and less than 2/3 of programs
- Fewer than 1/3 of programs
Participant Profile
Targeted Poverty Segments
Poor
Extreme poor
Ultra-poor
Those above the poverty line
Doesn't target by poverty level
Targeted Population Groups
Women
Children
Youth
Older people
Persons with disabilities
Displacement-affected
Climate-affected
Marginalized
Conflict-affected
- More than 2/3 of programs
- Between 1/3 and less than 2/3 of programs
- Fewer than 1/3 of programs
CORE PROGRAM COMPONENTS
Transfer
Business capital
Wage employment facilitation
Skills training
Coaching
Financial services facilitation
Market links
Climate resilience support
ECONOMIC INCLUSION PROGRAMS SURVEYED
| Program Name | Year program began | Lead Agencies | Program Description | No. of Current Participants | % Female Participants | Poverty Targeting | Digital |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFTER - Early Recovery with Crisis-Affected Communities | 2020 | Concern Worldwide | AFTER aims to support the economic recovery of populations affected by war and displacement through interventions that promote the recovery and protection of vulnerable individuals' socio-economic well-being after a crisis or shock. | 2,154 | 26-50% of participants | Targets poor broadly | Yes |
| Humanitarian Assistance to Conflict-Affected Households in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo | 2022 | Concern Wolrdwide | The program aims to assist vulnerable households generating incomes through village savings and loan associations and income generating activities, cash and asset transfers, and cash-for-work opportunities to meet immediate needs, strengthen social cohesion, and rehabilitate community infrastructure. | 740 | 76-99% of participants | Targets poor broadly | Yes |
| Chronic Humanitarian Crisis (CHC) Stream | 2023 | Social Action for the Promotion of the Left Behind (ASPLC ) | The program supports vulnerable households in socio-economic reintegration, providing cash transfers for food, asset support for income generating activities, literacy programs, and activities promoting social cohesion and gender transformation. | 400 | 76-99% of participants | Targets poor broadly | Yes |
| Eastern Recovery Project (STEP) | 2014 | Social Fund of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FSRDC) | The project seeks to improve access to livelihoods and socio-economic infrastructures in selected vulnerable communities in the DRC. | 23,469 | 76-99% of participants | Targets poor broadly | Yes |
| Green Graduation | 2023 | Concern Wolrdwide | Green graduation aims to support households through raising awareness, trainings, cash and asset transfers, village savings and loans associations, environmental protection, and support for gender and protection. | 350 | 26-50% of participants | Targets XP/UP only | Yes |
| Multi-sectoral Humanitarian Response to Displaced and Host Populations Affected by the Conflict in Ituri and North Kivu Provinces | 2022 | Airtel Money | The program supports households by providing monthly food assistance, coaching, training for self- or wage-employment, and capital. | 250 | 51-75% of participants | Targets XP/UP only | Yes |
| Partnership for the Development of the Eastern Congo (P-DEC) | 2021 | Mercy Corps | The program aims to build a foundation for durable peace in Eastern Congo by strengthening community resilience, improving institutional accountability and responsiveness, and promoting inclusive and diversified economic growth. | 4,525 | Does not target by poverty level | Yes | |
| Stronger Women Stronger Nations Program | 2004 | Women for Women International | The Stronger Women, Stronger Nations Program supports ultra-poor, conflict-affected women with training in financial literacy, health, rights, business and vocational skills, and provides cash stipends, vocational resources, and network connections. | 5,679 | All (100% of participants are female) | Targets poor broadly | Yes |
| Sustainable Livelihoods in the Lomako Reserve: A Conservation and Micro Enterprise Development Partnership | 2021 | African Wildlife Foundation | Village Enterprise assists the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) in the Lomako Reserve to establish a successful microenterprise program, aiming to foster positive community attitudes toward the reserve. | 216 | 76-99% of participants | Targets XP/UP only | Yes |
| Sustainable Livelihoods in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve | 2021 | Wildlife Conservation Society | In the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, Village Enterprise and WCS work together to alleviate poverty and protect endangered wildlife by empowering communities to start sustainable businesses, thereby reducing poaching. | 600 | 76-99% of participants | Targets XP/UP only | Yes |
Only programs that have given their consent to share their program data are included in this table
The Partnership for Economic Inclusion (PEI) is a global platform that unites non-governmental organizations, UN agencies, research institutions, funding partners, and the World Bank to support government adoption and scale up of economic inclusion programs that empower vulnerable people to lift themselves out of extreme poverty.
| DNA: Does Not Apply; FY: Fiscal Year; FCV: Fragility, Conflict, and Violence; MPI: Multidimensional Poverty Index; NPL: National Poverty Line; N/A: Not available; WB: World Bank |