Kinhasa, DRC – The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in partnership with the United Nations and the World Bank, launched a joint project aimed at strengthening social protection systems and promoting access to decent work, on 16 March. Funded by the Joint SDG Fund, this new programme aims to build strong links between non-contributory and contributory social protection, expand the coverage of these systems, and improve skills development and employment policies. The initiative also seeks to support people at risk of poverty towards more stable, productive, and sustainable economic opportunities.
This project supports the Government's priorities in terms of job creation, human capital development and poverty reduction, in accordance with the National Strategic Development Plan (PNSD 2024-2028), and kick starts the country's engagement under the Global Accelerator.
“In this regard, the initiative we are launching today is an important step. It reinforces the efforts undertaken by the Government to promote inclusive growth, support the necessary economic transitions and create more opportunities for our youth,” said Guylain Nyembo Mbwizya, Minister of State, Minister of Planning and Coordination for Development.
Today in the DRC, nearly 86 per cent of jobs are in the informal economy, while only 5 per cent of the population benefits from a social protection system, primarily workers in the formal sector. In this context, young people, women, and vulnerable individuals still face significant obstacles in accessing relevant skills, adequate protection mechanisms, and sustainable economic opportunities.
Led by the Ministry of Planning and Development Assistance Coordination, under the coordination of the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, the project receives technical support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the World Bank. Through complementary actions, the partners will support the strengthening of employability, access to economic opportunities, and the expansion of social protection.
By placing the population at the heart of the action, the initiative will directly benefit 1,500 young people, at least 40 per cent of whom will be women, through a pilot program integrating training, entrepreneurship, and access to social security. Simultaneously, the project will contribute to strengthening the capacities of national institutions and improving coordination between social protection, skills development, and employment systems, in order to generate a large-scale and lasting impact.
Through this initiative, the Government reaffirms its commitment to act in concert with national partners to support coordinated implementation of the program and accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Speaking on behalf of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the DRC, Nteba Soumano, Director, International Labour Organization, DRC, reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations System to support the coordinated implementation of the project: “I reaffirm here the commitment of the United Nations System to support the Government (…) in order to ensure better coordination of partner interventions and to reduce the fragmentation of the employment and social protection sub-sectors.”
This article was originally published on the ILO website.
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo became a Global Accelerator Pathfinder Country in April 2024.
- The country is prioritizing youth employment and social protection as acceleration points.
- To develop its national roadmap, early priorities have been identified including: social protection, skills development and TVET, employment policy, tackling informality, improving youth employment, systemic reforms, economic diversification, policy design and financing.