Fatshimetrie, October 20, 2024 – During an online conference organized in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as part of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty celebrated on October 17 of each year, a discussion emerged around the informal sector as a potential solution to eradicating youth unemployment. At the heart of the debates, the alarming observation of the precariousness in which many young Congolese live, sometimes forced to leave their country due to a lack of sufficient employment opportunities.
The keynote speaker, Patience Mutinsumu, stressed that the lack of decent jobs is pushing more and more young people to turn to the informal sector, for lack of anything better. This precarious situation not only contributes to the growth of crime and urban banditry, but it also hinders the socio-economic development of the country.
An observation shared by many voices during this conference, in particular Me Christelle Nanivaso, a lawyer specializing in labor law, who stressed that the lack of professional experience constitutes a major obstacle to the integration of young people into the labor market. The figures are clear: nearly eight out of ten young people find themselves unemployed in Kinshasa, thus creating an emergency situation that the authorities must take into account.
Faced with this worrying reality, a possible solution is emerging: supporting youth entrepreneurship by encouraging them to engage in income-generating activities such as agriculture, small businesses or online sales. This approach aims to offer them financial independence and keep them away from harmful practices such as banditry.
Another issue raised during this conference is the adequacy between the university training offer and the needs of the labor market. Aline Ngerebaya, coordinator of the non-profit organization “Women of the Future”, called for a thorough reform of the study programs to make them more in line with the demands of the professional world. The stakes are high, because it is by adequately training Congolese youth that we can truly hope to reduce the unemployment rate and create sustainable employment opportunities.
In conclusion, the issue of youth employment in Kinshasa is complex and requires a comprehensive and coordinated response. It is urgent that the various stakeholders, whether from the public, private or associative sectors, join forces to implement effective policies and programs aimed at offering a better future to new generations. The stakes are not only economic, but also social and moral, because the future of the country will depend on Congolese youth.