Canada improving lives and promoting women’s economic empowerment in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today announced $97 million in funding for initiatives to promote inclusive governance and human rights, human dignity and growth that works for all in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Promoting inclusive governance and human rights
Strengthening community systems to protect children and youth in Kinshasa - $7 million over five years
Implemented by Médecins du Monde France, this initiative aims to strengthen protection services offered to at-risk youth in Kinshasa, DRC. Thanks to Canada’s contribution, more than 70,000 street children and vulnerable youth will have access to protection and health services, including sexual and reproductive health services and psychosocial services for survivors of gender-based violence.

Protecting children and youth working in mines - $6.5 million over five years
Implemented by International Planned Parenthood Federation – Africa Region, this initiative aims to improve the lives of children and youth working in or around mines in the DRC. Canada’s support will help to protect over 25,000 children, especially girls, from violence, economic exploitation and sexual abuse, by strengthening local health and child protection services and establishing partnerships between mining companies, local authorities and communities on child protection.

Promoting human dignity
Canada’s humanitarian assistance to the DRC - $21.2 million over one to two years
Implemented by experienced UN agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and non-governmental organizations, these 12 projects will provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to meet the needs of over 578,000 conflict-affected people in the DRC. This includes emergency food and nutrition assistance, water sanitation, shelter, health services and psychosocial assistance for survivors of gender-based violence, in particular women and children.

Addressing protracted food insecurity through collaborative resilience-based approaches - $50 million over five years
Implemented by the World Food Programme, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in the DRC, Niger and Somalia, Canada’s support will provide emergency food assistance to meet the immediate needs of vulnerable populations affected by protracted crises, particularly women and children. It will also provide these beneficiaries with the skills and resources they need to restore their livelihoods, protect their assets and meet the basic needs of their families, thereby decreasing their dependence on humanitarian food assistance.

Promoting growth that works for all
Mobilizing private investments for inclusive economic growth - $12.2 million over five years
Implemented by FINCA Canada in the DRC and Haiti, this initiative aims to improve inclusive economic growth by increasing the number of low-income people, particularly women, who can access financial products tailored to their needs. Through this initiative, over 500,000 people in the DRC (60% of whom are women) will have access to financial products, such as health insurance and mobile banking, as well as technical assistance to improve their lives and enable them to become empowered members of their communities.