The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the most fragile states in the world, having endured decades of armed conflict and instability. The World Food Program’s 2020 forecast predicted that of the 100 million people in DR Congo, 15.6 million are severely food insecure and 5 million people are internally displaced. High levels of poverty and limited opportunities for employment contribute to fueling conflicts in the eastern DRC.

One Day’s Wages partnered with Mavuno to launch Maarifa: a training hub for entrepreneurs in North Kivu Province.  The goal of Maarifa (knowledge, in Swahili) is to expand the production of locally-produced goods and strengthen the local economy that has become increasingly dependent on imports.  Through our partnership, 150 entrepreneurs were able to expand and diversify their small businesses through training in financial literacy, business skills and agripreneurship.  Of these, 20 were accepted into an accelerator program that offered them microloans.   A highlight of the year was a local business expo where 57 entrepreneurs proudly promoted everything from locally-produced coffee and cocoa, to soap and sandals.  By participating in the Maarifa program, entrepreneurs increased their income by 20-50%!