Title: Motorized caravan in Kinshasa to promote female entrepreneurship and defend women’s rights
Introduction :
In collaboration with UN Women, the Congolese Women’s Permanent Consultation Framework (CAFCO) recently organized a motorized caravan in the city of Kinshasa. This initiative aimed to raise awareness among the population, especially women, on the importance of female entrepreneurship and the defense of the rights of women and girls. By emphasizing laws favorable to women’s entrepreneurship and encouraging women to formalize their businesses, this caravan sought to promote women’s economic autonomy in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The need for field trips:
CAFCO understood that it was essential to get out of the office and meet women in the field. By going to the markets and traveling the roads of Kinshasa, the caravan was able to reach a large audience and capture the attention of passers-by. This direct approach made it possible to transmit essential information on the laws in favor of women’s entrepreneurship and to encourage women to register with the one-stop shop for business creation.
Promoting women’s economic autonomy:
The caravan also highlighted the importance of women knowing their rights in entrepreneurship and trade. The idea that women need marital permission to start a business has been refuted, as the family code has replaced this requirement with the right to information. Women have been encouraged to exercise their business freely and to report cases of sexual harassment of which they may be victims.
A pilot project for the future:
This motorized caravan marked the start of a vast project which will take place in several phases, from mid-2022 to mid-2023. The main objective of this project is to reform and disseminate laws in favor of female entrepreneurship, in collaboration with the Support Program for the Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (PADMPME). By raising awareness and informing women about their rights and economic development opportunities, this project aims to strengthen the economic autonomy of Congolese women.
Conclusion :
The motorized caravan organized by CAFCO in partnership with UN Women was an important step in the promotion of female entrepreneurship and the defense of women’s rights in Kinshasa. By going to the field and disseminating key information on favorable laws for women’s entrepreneurship, this initiative has raised awareness among a wide audience and encouraged women to engage in formal economic activities.. Thanks to these efforts, the economic autonomy of Congolese women can be strengthened, thus contributing to their emancipation and the construction of a more egalitarian society