Fatshimétrie, October 2024 – The emancipation of rural women in Kongo Central, Democratic Republic of Congo, is a central issue raised by the Association of Traders and Farmers of Mbanza-Ngungu. Indeed, during a recent interview, the president of this association, Sara Ntuadi, stressed the importance of providing training to women living in the most remote areas of the region.
According to Ms. Ntuadi, it is crucial to raise awareness among rural women of their essential role in the development of the Kongo Central province, and even the entire country. Too often, these women minimize the impact of their agricultural activities on society. This is why she advocates the establishment of conferences, financial education sessions and other awareness-raising meetings to promote the work of women in the fields.
Thanks to training initiatives on financial education, more than 85% of the women members of the association now have bank accounts. This data highlights the importance of financial skills for the empowerment of rural women and their contribution to the country’s economic development.
Nevertheless, Sara Ntuadi also expressed her concern about the demeaning view that some women, especially young girls, have of agricultural activities. She emphasized that these activities are not unworthy, but on the contrary essential to meet the food needs of the population. She therefore called for a change in mentalities and to encourage women to recognize the value of agriculture for their personal development and that of the community.
Finally, Ms. Ntuadi called for better identification of operational structures by donors, in order to effectively support initiatives aimed at the empowerment of rural women. It is crucial to strengthen partnerships with organizations that are truly engaged on the ground to ensure a positive and sustainable impact on communities.
Ultimately, the training offered to rural women in Kongo Central is a major challenge for their economic and social emancipation. It is imperative to promote their role in local development and support them in acquiring key skills to strengthen their autonomy and actively participate in the prosperity of the region and the country as a whole.