Project profile — Talents Pluriels – Safe and Inclusive Economic Growth for Vulnerable Youth in the DRC

• Congo, Democratic Republic (100.00%)

• Human rights:
Human rights (15160) (10.00%)
Women's rights organisations and movements, and government institutions (15170) (30.00%)
• Other Social Infrastructure And Services: Employment policy and administrative management (16020) (60.00%)

• Gender equality (significant objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (not targeted)
• Participatory development and good governance (not targeted)
• Trade development (principal objective)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Children's issues (not targeted)
• Youth Issues (significant objective)
• Disaster Risk Reduction(DRR) (not targeted)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Disability (significant objective)
• Nutrition (not targeted)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

The project aims to improve safe, inclusive and equitable economic growth for vulnerable youth in the cities of Bukavu, Kinshasa and Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Project activities include: (1) training vulnerable youth entrepreneurs in a safe, inclusive and gender-responsive environment. The training aims to strengthen and grow micro, small and medium-sized enterprises; (2) tailoring training on the developing and adopting safe, inclusive and gender-responsive human resource policies and practices. Then, delivering the training sessions to local companies and international organizations’ staff; and (3) organizing safe, inclusive and gender-responsive community engagement sessions on discrimination against vulnerable youth. Community leaders lead the sessions to create dialogues among communities, including community-based organizations and support networks. The project beneficiaries are Kinshasa, Bukavu and Lubumbashi’s vulnerable youth (including young women), companies, community and vulnerable youth’s family members. The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) is co-financing the project.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased safe, inclusive and equitable participation by vulnerable youth in the formal labour market; (2) increased effectiveness of businesses in adopting and implementing safe, inclusive and gender-responsive employment strategies, programs and policies for vulnerable youth; and (3) increased safer, more inclusive and gender-responsive environments for vulnerable youth, communities, families and support networks.

Results achieved as of March 2024 include: (1) trained 2,562 vulnerable youths in employment and entrepreneurship in Bukavu, Kinshasa, and Lubumbashi; (2) registered 209 businesses owned by vulnerable youths across Bukavu, Kinshasa, and Lubumbashi; (3) improved capacity of 182 employees representing 13 recruiting international companies and organizations in gender equality and social inclusion; (4) invited 482 vulnerable youths following employment training courses for interviews or recruitment tests, with 161 successfully securing positions; and (5) 123 of the vulnerable youths reported feeling better equipped to access the services and resources needed to participate in the labour market.

• Proactive disclosure