FSRDC – ILO: A Strategic Partnership for Rural Youth Employment in the DRC

FSRDC – ILO: A Strategic Partnership for Rural Youth Employment in the DRC

Kinshasa, February 11, 2026 – A crucial new step has been taken for the future of rural youth in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Social Fund of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FSRDC), represented by its National Coordinator Philippe Ngwala Malemba, and the International Labour Organization (ILO), represented by Ms. Nteba Soumano, have signed a major technical assistance agreement in Kinshasa.

Objective: Aligning Skills with Market Needs

This agreement aims to promote employability and entrepreneurship in rural areas within the framework of PAGDC-PTA, a pillar of the Agricultural Transformation Program (PTA-RDC). The ambition is to match young people's skills with the real needs of the labor market, particularly in:

• Modern agriculture
• Agro-industry
• Rural value chains

Primary Target: Rural Youth

The partnership specifically targets rural youth aged 15 to 35, with special attention to female inclusion:

These young people, eager to build sustainable professional stability, will be trained and supported in their provinces.

Target Provinces

Kongo Central – Kasaï Oriental – Tshopo – Nord-Ubangi – Sud-Ubangi

A Presidential Vision for National Sovereignty

Initiated by President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, this project embodies the vision of the "revenge of the soil on the subsoil": making agriculture an engine of employment, economic autonomy, and national sovereignty.

The project is coordinated by the FSRDC and funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB).