A call for action
The Democratic Republic of Congo is making a decisive move, placing its vibrant youth at the forefront of national development. With over 65% of its population under the age of 25, the nation marks World Population Day with a powerful theme: « Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people – today and for the future ».
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Ministry of Planning are issuing a vital call: the country’s future prosperity hinges on transforming the immense potential of its young generation into a driving force for growth. Amidst global demographic shifts, the DRC is strategically leveraging its unique age structure as a significant national asset.
The ‘Lives, Choices and Futures’ survey: understanding youth priorities
A recent UNFPA report, stemming from a survey of 100,000 young individuals across 73 countries, challenges conventional wisdom. Young Congolese, mirroring their global counterparts, aspire to build families, yet they encounter substantial systemic barriers. These include economic uncertainty, precarious employment prospects, and significant housing challenges.
A striking 88% of these young people identify financial security as an essential prerequisite for parenthood. This indicates not a diminishing interest in family, but rather a profound demand for increased opportunities and greater stability in their lives.
Demographic policies that rely on coercion are ultimately destined to fail if they do not address the very obstacles young people themselves identify. As a young community leader powerfully articulated, « It’s not just about choosing to have fewer children. It’s about having fewer choices. ».
DRC: transforming challenges into development opportunities
In response to prevailing crises, particularly in the Eastern regions of the country, UNFPA and the Government are intensifying their collaborative efforts. Their commitment, fully aligned with the National Strategic Development Plan (PNSD 2024-2028), is structured around two critical pillars:
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UNFPA actively supports enhanced access to reproductive health services and quality education. This empowerment allows young people, especially vulnerable girls and women, to exercise complete autonomy over their bodies and their life choices.
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UNFPA is assisting the DRC in accelerating the second General Population and Housing Census (RGPH2). This initiative also includes developing Demographic Dividend (DD) profiles across provinces, ensuring that investments are precisely targeted where the needs of young people are most pressing.
An urgent call for productive investment
UNFPA reiterates that investing in youth is not a mere budgetary expense but rather the most productive and impactful investment a nation can make. True prosperity will only be realized when young people are equipped with the resources and opportunities to contribute fully to the nation’s progress.
« Young people – from North to South, from East to West – have spoken. It is time to listen to them. And it is time to help create the conditions that allow them to make genuine choices, to build the families they desire, and to fulfill their hopes and aspirations », underscores the Executive Director of UNFPA.
UNFPA and the Ministry of Planning are inviting all development partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector to engage in a constructive dialogue. The goal is to sustainably transform the narrative and build the Congolese nation of tomorrow: innovative, robust, and resilient.
