Vocational and employment training for young women in vulnerable situations in Tshikapa Sami, Kasai Province, Democratic Republic of Congo.

  • Country: Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Location: Tshikapa Sami, Kasai Province
  • Duration: January to December 2026.
  • Participants: 50 young women, aged 18 to 30, single mothers or from low-income families, victims of violence and/or in situations of socioeconomic vulnerability, without education or stable employment.
  • Area of specialization: Training and professional integration.

Starting point

Tshikapa-Kamalenga is a city located in Kasai Province, characterized by high population density and rapid urbanization, but suffering from a lack of socioeconomic and educational infrastructure. The area is known for its artisanal mining, particularly diamond extraction. However, this economy is primarily based on the informal sector, which employs over 80% of the region’s working population (INS-DRC, 1-2-3 Survey on Informal Employment, 2021). The local economy is characterized by a heavy reliance on small-scale trade, handicrafts, subsistence farming, and the resale of basic necessities. The lack of industrial infrastructure and local investment policies hinders the creation of formal employment (World Bank, Economic Situation Report for the DRC, 2023).

Living conditions are precarious, and women face numerous challenges: poverty, marginalization, gender-based violence, and limited access to education and credit. The female unemployment rate is around 60%, and women’s economic dependence is a significant obstacle to their development.

Young women are the most vulnerable to economic insecurity and face several obstacles:

  • A high school dropout rate linked to early marriage and unwanted pregnancies (UNICEF, Study on Girls’ Schooling in the DRC, 2022);
  • Underrepresentation in technical and vocational training, especially in predominantly male fields;
  • Sociocultural norms that limit their mobility and access to economic autonomy (UN Women, Report on Gender Equality in the DRC, 2023).

Consequently, they resort to unskilled informal activities, such as street vending, laundry, or small domestic services, often without capital or supervision.

Despite these challenges, the Tshikapa-Kamalenga market offers economic opportunities, especially in:

  • Agri-food processing: cassava, corn, palm oil, and peanut crops;
  • Handicrafts: sewing, hairdressing, restoration, and embroidery;
  • Manufacturing of essential goods: soap, candles, and detergent;
  • Local commerce and light logistics.

These activities require little capital investment, but do require practical training, management skills, and business support (FAO, Analysis of Local Value Chains in the DRC, 2022). Strengthening young women’s technical and entrepreneurial skills therefore represents a direct response to the needs of the local market, while also promoting women’s economic autonomy.

Objective

To contribute to reducing the socio-economic vulnerability of young women in Tshikapa-Kamalenga by strengthening their technical, entrepreneurial, and personal capacities.

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What is the project about

The project’s development will focus on the following components:

  • Strengthening the professional skills of women in situations of economic vulnerability through training in gastronomy, sewing, and/or hairdressing, for which they will receive a diploma certifying their training.

  • Providing technical advice for the employment of the women beneficiaries, ensuring that their work is formalized through an employment contract and that they receive fair compensation, or that they develop their own economic initiatives and opt for self-employment.

  • Improving their socioeconomic capabilities and “soft skills” for employment.

The initiative takes an inclusive approach and promotes the fulfillment of women’s human rights, taking into account the specific barriers faced by vulnerable young women (early pregnancy, poverty, violence, school dropout). Activities will also include women’s leadership workshops, awareness-raising on women’s rights, the creation of a solidarity microcredit fund, and the establishment of networks with local entrepreneurs.

Furthermore, the active participation of local authorities, families, and educational stakeholders will be encouraged to ensure an environment conducive to the project’s success.

Entities that support this project