Representatives of women-led organizations in eastern DRC interviewed by the Women's Refugee Commission described a broader labor-market collapse. One provider said: “Women who worked in NGOs […] are unemployed; women who ran small businesses […] have lost their property due to looting […] microfinance institutions [are] closed.”

Date: 12/25

Region: Africa

Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Topic: Gender Equality & Inclusion, Economy & Livelihoods

Policy Lens: Security & Resilience

Entry Type: Field Observation

Additional Context: Without U.S. funding, many jobs that used to exist in the service provision sectors have disappeared. Many who relied on these jobs for stable income have found themselves unable to get new work.

This report from the Women's Refugee Commission examines the dual shocks of renewed conflict and funding withdrawal in eastern DRC. The researchers reviewed publicly available secondary resources, and conducted fieldwork in August 2025. They interviewed eight women-led organizations and ten internally displaced women in North and South Kivu.

Source: Women's Refugee Commission