Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the biggest countries in Africa, located at the heart of the continent. DRC has the potential to become a driver of African growth if it can overcome political instability. DRC has 80 million hectares of arable land and over 1,100 minerals and precious metals. 

Besides the essential natural resources that DRC possesses, its GDP and population size are significant compared to those of Rwanda and Burundi and make it an important country in the region. However, political and economic instability does not allow it to play a significant role in the region.
DR CONGO

facts and Figures

  • Area: 2,345,409 km2
  • Population: approx. 100 million
  • Capital: Kinshasa

Swisscontact in DR Congo

  • since 2016

Projects

2024 - 2028
DR Congo
Initial vocational education and training
USAID Métiers Inclusifs
Improving the social mobility and economic livelihoods of 28,000 marginalised young people in urban areas of Kinshasa, Kalemie, and Matadi by enhancing their knowledge, skills, and access to resources and information.
2012 - 2023
Burundi, Rwanda, DR Congo
Initial vocational education and training
Promoting Market Oriented Skills Training and Employment Creation in the Great Lakes Region
The project supports the Governments of Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to improve access, quality and relevance of their respective Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems. This addresses the key development challenge of unemployment and underemployment brought about by the low quality of skills...
2023 - 2026
DR Congo
Initial vocational education and training, Labour market insertion
United for Gender Equality in Democratic Republic of Congo 
The aim is to strengthen the socio-economic skills of young men and women in order to promote their autonomy for a self-determined life. Special attention is paid to gender equality.

News

DR Congo
Initial vocational education and training
08.03.2021
Creating a livelihood through carpentry training – Iragi's story
19-year-old Iragi trained in carpentry and entrepreneurship in Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Today, she makes furniture and sells it to households in her neighbourhood.
Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda
10.06.2020
PROMOST: What’s been going on in the Great Lakes Region?
The Promoting Market-Oriented Skills Training (PROMOST) in the Great Lakes Region has been up to a lot these past few months despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)- funded project has put in place several measures to ensure that they still proceed with the major project activities but cautiously and...
Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo
Labour market insertion
05.05.2020
Things Worked out Because of the Support I got
“Berwa means looking good or good looking”. That is what 35-year-old Aloysie Muhawenimana named her salon, a business that she built from the bottom up. The wife and mother of two tells her story of how the project ‘Promoting Market-Oriented Skills Training (PROMOST) in the Great Lakes Region, implemented by Swisscontact and funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), has helped her achieve some of her life goals. 
Country Director, DR Congo
Thierry Lenoir

SWISSCONTACT IN DR CONGO

Swisscontact works in DR Congo to contribute to increased employment and income generation for the rural population in South Kivu province, Bukavu. Swisscontact implements the PROMOST project together with stakeholders to improve access to quality and labour-market-oriented vocational training. 

Partners

  • The Provincial Ministry of Education
  • The Provincial Youth Division
  • World Confederation of Artisans (CMA)
  • Craftsmanship Society (SMA)
  • South Kivu Local Economy Counter (GEL-South Kivu)
Promost - Project journey and key achievements 2012 - 2020
The Great Lakes Region is one of the most densely populated and least urbanised areas on the African continent. In Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), subsistence agriculture remains the backbone of the economy and employs a majority of available labour. At the same time, governments are well aware that in the interest of economic growth, substantial investments in non-agricultural activities are needed to increase employment and incomes. 

The governments of these three countries have made skills development their stated national priority and place special emphasis on vocational training and continued education. The creation of a demand-oriented, flexible, inclusive, and high-quality vocational education system is key to rapid economic growth, fair distribution of income, and the development of a healthy society.
 

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Contact

Swisscontact in DR Congo

90, Avenue Lundula, Ibanda, Bukavu,