Economic empowerment of women

We support women until their business sustainably covers their expenses.

Why this area of work

In both Beni and Lubero, many women are the sole breadwinners for their households, often after being displaced or losing their means of subsistence. Their businesses already exist, but they remain fragile: no capital to build stock, no sales location, and no written record of income and expenses. A single bad week is enough to jeopardize everything.

We are convinced that strengthening women's economic capacity directly benefits their families and communities. This is why economic empowerment is at the heart of every one of our projects.

Our approach

Learn. Every journey begins with practical training: cost calculation, pricing, inventory and working capital management, and separating household finances from business funds.

Act. Beneficiaries create or strengthen income-generating activities: small-scale trade, juice production, flour, chips and popcorn production, and urban market gardening. Depending on the project, they receive equipment or seed capital, handed over personally after signing a contract in their own name.

Succeed. Field monitoring accompanies the first months of activity. Savings, followed by the gradual establishment of a VSLA (Village Savings and Loan Association), then allow them to reinvest and cope with unforeseen events.

In Beni, the project conducted with the Congolese Women's Fund and the National Philanthropic Trust supports 27 women and girls: training, seed capital, lease agreement, and six months of monitoring.

Who this program is for

Women and girls whose livelihoods have been weakened by crises, particularly internally displaced persons or survivors of violence. Beneficiaries are identified in collaboration with local authorities and partner cooperatives, according to criteria defined with each financial partner.

What changes

• An activity that generates a regular income, rather than day-to-day sales.
• Daily bookkeeping: every beneficiary knows what she earns.
• Savings that protect the household and finance business growth.
• A stronger position in household and community decision-making.

Before, I would sell whatever I could find at the market in the morning. Since the training and the start-up capital, I have a shop, stock, and a notebook where I record everything. I finally know what I earn.

Kavira, beneficiary in Beni

This area of work extends into training and leadership and in agrifood processing, which provide activities with new skills and new products.