Congo Leadership Initiative
Job training, mentoring, and monitoring for young entrepreneurs
Location: Democratic Republic of Congo
Sponsor: Ann McStay and Kermit Eck
, and 2025Congo Leadership Initiative (CLI): Grantee in 2020 ,2021 and 2025
CLI was founded in 2010 and has set as its mission the development of the next generation of leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It seeks to be a catalyst for peace and prosperity in a nation where 30MM people are under the age of 18 and the country ranks in the bottom five of all countries in terms of GDP per capita. CLI formed the Leadership Institute to offer young Congolese men and women leadership and entrepreneurship training. Participants go through a 50-hour program that teaches them valuable management and leadership skills.
Since its founding, CLI has supported skill development for youth that has led to the creation of more than 450 small businesses, benefiting local economies and providing a variety of much-needed services. In addition, this investment in the education of Congolese youth has also positioned graduates to assume leadership roles in government and community service.
Recently, CLI launched a microfinance program to extend microloans and grants to spur genuine economic and social change. Loans were made to groups of 3-5 youth with a business and/or non-profit idea and led by a CLI graduate. The pilot program funds 55 projects.
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GRANT SUMMARY AND PURPOSE
2020: $30,000 will expand the pilot loan program and fund the purchase of mobile-based OZE software to provide additional monitoring and coaching of young entrepreneurs. Each loan, with a value of $150, is significant in a country where per capita income is under $500.
2021: A $30,000 grant will provide no-penalty loans to 105 teams of 5 led by graduates of CLI’s leadership program. Some direct cash transfers will be grants for service projects, and some funds will also pay for per-minute phone communications between grantees and staff to meet communication challenges as CLI coaches the young entrepreneurs.
2025: A $30,000 grant for CLI’s Digital Employment Training Program will equip 100 youth in Kinshasa to overcome overwhelming competition, overpopulation, and infrastructure challenges to obtain jobs and earn income as part of the digital global economy. Creating access to jobs via the promise of online employment is an important step for graduates of our leadership training program and youth across Kinshasa. With support of a curriculum specialist, with whom CLI has previously worked, the program’s training modules will include a structured approach, combined with focus on key elements of digital work such as use of generative AI, and robust monitoring.
IMPACT
Generate income for the youth and their families involved in small businesses and service projects created. A second, extended level of impact beyond the founders will occur through job creation for employees; jobs that also provide much-needed health benefits and job education opportunities.
