Dell is teaming with Canadian-based non-profit firm IMPACT to provide women in the Democratic Republic of Congo with business education focused on investing their savings into new entrepreneurship opportunities in their communities.
The partnership will provide over 300 women artisanal gold miners in the north-eastern region of the country’s Ituri Province with business skills training through IMPACT’s Atisanal Mining Women’s Empowerment Credit and Savings project, known by its French acronym AFECCOR.
The project and training is in direct support of IMPACT’s research on women’s economic empowerment in the artisanal mining sector, along with studies from UN Women, detailing the commitment of women to innovate in areas that improve the long-term development and security of their own communities.
It supports women and men in artisanal gold mining communities in establishing Village Savings and Loans Associations, providing training and monitoring as they grow their savings over a year. After one year, participants are empowered to invest their savings into new entrepreneurial activities—promoting local entrepreneurship and economic security.
“Our research shows that access to secure savings and credit is a major barrier for women to have an equal opportunity as economic actors in the artisanal mining sector,” said Joanne Lebert, IMPACT’s Executive Director.
“With the support of AFECCOR, women have been putting aside a small amount of money into their savings for the past months and as that amount increases, so does their confidence in planning for the future.”
