Entrepreneurship among Women Victims of Rape in Eastern DR Congo: Alternative strategies for reintegration throughaccess to employment, the case of South Kivu province

Abstract

The conflict that has ravaged eastern DRC for decades is more intense than ever. While the first challenge for women victims of violence is to survive, the issue of economic empowerment is central. Through this study, we aim to contribute to the promotion of gender equality and women's rights by supporting the entrepreneurial activities of women victims of rape (WVR) in South Kivu province. This allows us to understand and analyze the determinants of entrepreneurial success among WVR beneficiaries of reintegration and to assess the effectiveness of existing reintegration strategies based on opportunities for job creation for women survivors (including entrepreneurship). Methodologically, eighty women victims of rape supported by the Panzi Foundation participated in the survey. Three main findings emerged from this study: (i) three factors determine the entrepreneurial success of WVR beneficiaries of economic reintegration: the profile of the beneficiaries (age and vocational training), the reintegration project (the reintegration strategy), and the characteristics of reintegration (income, and Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA)). (ii) The reintegration strategy is effective and depends on priority measures taken by the organization supporting women victims of rape, ranging from training to the creation and management of income-generating activities. Thus, in terms of the beneficiaries' subjective assessment of themselves, 56.25% of beneficiaries are moderately satisfied with the reintegration strategy. (iii) 93.8% of women victims of rape who are entrepreneurs enjoy a certain degree of autonomy. The entrepreneurship of women victims of rape plays a key role in reducing gender inequalities.