Democratic Republic of Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) boasts a population of approximately 115 million people, vast lands and rivers, and abundant mineral resources. In recent years, life expectancy has increased from 50 to 60 years of age. Mean years of schooling have increased from 7 years to 9.7, and gross domestic product per capita has increased by $430 from $150 to $580. 

CRS DRC continues to address sudden-onset emergency and long-term development issues in collaboration with church partners, government agencies and other humanitarian actors. Core programming areas include transformative health, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene, and agricultural interventions that respond to the country’s diverse challenges. CRS development and humanitarian assistance maintain a strategic focus on the Kasai region, in central southern DRC. CRS’ work in the DRC is founded on a strong partnership with national and local Church structures. CRS has collaborated with 13 diocesan Caritas partners, in addition to national Church structures such as Caritas Congo and the National Episcopal Conference of the Congo. By working through Church partners, CRS has been able to serve remote populations despite extremely challenging operational conditions.