Rinchi
TechInAfrica – The 50 Million African Women project has been officially launched and gotten a support by the Democratic Republic of Congo government. The project provides some information and linkages to business services, training, and market opportunities through a platform that is accessible using electronic gadgets, like mobile phones, laptops, computers, and other communication devices.
There are several government officials who show support to the women empowerment project, such as; the Minister of Justice, Alexis Thambwe Mwamba; the Minister of Gender, Child and Family, Chantal Safou Lopus; the Secretary-General for the Ministry of Regional Integration, Zacharie Tshimbinda Bilolo; and the Secretary-General for the ministry of Gender, Adrienne Binuana. These representatives of the government want to make sure that the project will be successfully implemented.
The Minister of Gender, Child and Family, Chantal Safou Lopus thanked COMESA and the African Development Bank (AfDB) for initiating the women empowering program. The program has been supported financially by AfDB for these past 3 years.
Minister Lopus stated, “We have a critical role to play in the development of our economies. That is why the late former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.”
Speaking about the Platform of the project, COMESA Senior Gender Mainstreaming Officer, Mekia Mohamed Redi explained: “The Platform is unique and will build a community of existing and potential women entrepreneurs who will act as peers, mentors, and advisors to each other,” she said. “It will enable women entrepreneurs to network with one another and with mentors to support the overall goal of enhanced financial inclusion of women, leading ultimately to increased economic activity in the region.”
The project will be overseen on the national level through a Country Team formed by DRC where later will be led by the Ministry of Gender, Child, and Family.
The Country Team consists of several institutions including the Public Sector (Ministries responsible for Commerce, Regional Integration and Agriculture), Private (New Chamber of Commerce, Association of Women Entrepreneurs), Civic Societies (CONFED, CAFCO and Afia Mama), and the Financial Institutions (FINCA and Afriland First Back).
