Women Entrepreneurs 2026: Measuring Long-Term Economic Impact

Women are the backbone of communities across the DRC — yet they remain disproportionately excluded from economic opportunities. The FLMH Foundation's women empowerment program is reversing that trend, one micro-loan and one training session at a time.

The Challenge Women Face

In many rural communities of the DRC, women face significant barriers to economic participation — limited access to credit, lack of vocational training, and social norms that restrict their role in business. Without targeted intervention, these barriers perpetuate cycles of poverty that affect entire families and communities.

Our Approach

Our program combines micro-financing with vocational training in areas like tailoring, food production, and small retail. Each participant receives a starter micro-loan of between $200–$500, business mentorship for 12 months, and access to a network of fellow women entrepreneurs. Since 2023, we have supported over 1,400 women-led businesses, with an average income increase of 68% within the first year.

2026 Goals

This year, we are expanding the program to three new provinces and introducing a digital commerce module to help women sell their products online. We are also launching a mentorship matching platform connecting experienced women business owners with new participants. Our target is to support 500 additional women entrepreneurs by December 2026.