Article: Motorized caravan in Kinshasa: Encouraging female entrepreneurship and promoting women’s rights
On July 8, a remarkable initiative was organized in Kinshasa in partnership with UN Women. It is a motorized caravan organized by the Congolese Women’s Permanent Consultation Framework (CAFCO). This activity aimed to raise awareness among the people of Kinshasa, especially women, about female entrepreneurship and the rights of women and girls.
The caravan started at the Place des Evolués (Gombe) and traveled an impressive route, passing through the Boulevard du 30 juin, Kintambo-Magasin, Barré DGC and Delvaux (Ngaliema), to finally end at the Bayaka market (Ngiri-Ngiri ). This approach was intended to attract the attention of passers-by and spread important messages about the economic empowerment of women and their essential role in the development of the country.
Honorine Bokashanga, judge and member of CAFCO, stresses the importance of leaving the offices to meet the population. During this caravan, CAFCO members informed women about laws favorable to women’s entrepreneurship and encouraged them to formalize their businesses. It is recalled that women have the right to create their own business, even when they are married, because marital authorization has been replaced by information in the family code.
Mimie Angèle Khonde, another member of CAFCO, testifies to the presence of women in the informal sector and the importance of encouraging them to register with the one-stop shop for business creation. This approach aims to promote the formalization of women’s economic activities and give them access to opportunities for development and growth.
It is essential to underline that this motorized caravan is part of a large pilot project which will take place from mid-2022 to mid-2023. It aims to reform and disseminate laws favorable to women’s entrepreneurship, in conjunction with the Support Program for the Development of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (PADMPME).
This initiative is an important step in promoting the economic empowerment of women in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It raises public awareness of women’s rights and highlights the entrepreneurial potential of Congolese women. We hope that similar initiatives will multiply throughout the country to support women in their entrepreneurial journey and promote their active participation in the economic and social development of the nation.