Democratic Republic of Congo | ActionAid UK

Democratic Republic of Congo

ActionAid began working in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1987, when we provided emergency relief to Burundian refugees.

We are working to make quality education accessible to more children, by providing basic facilities in schools and renovating toilets.

We provide psychological support to survivors of sexual violence, and run workshops with the police and military to find ways to ensure that laws against sexual violence are understood and enforced.

We also build the resilience of communities affected by conflict by providing agricultural tools, seeds and training to help them become self-sufficient.

Why we work in the DRC

The DRC is one of the poorest countries in the world. Over 87% of the population live below the poverty line, and ongoing conflicts have driven millions of people from their homes.

CD
  • 100
    Over seven million children are missing out on primary education.
  • 100
    2.7 million people are internally displaced due to conflict.
  • 40
    Nearly 40% of girls are married before the age of 18.

The majority of the country’s poorest people live in rural areas, where limited access to clean water and sanitation cause outbreaks of deadly diseases like cholera.

Women and girls in rural areas are very vulnerable to sexual violence – millions of women have been raped and abused over years of conflict. Half of all women aged 15-24 are illiterate.

How we’re changing lives for good in the DRC

We have a long-term programme working with local partner organisations in 15 areas across the North and South Kivu Provinces – home to an estimated 12 million people.

Footnotes

Photos: Kate Holt/ActionAid, ActionAid