JOINT PRESS STATEMENT
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is taking decisive action to harness the power of its young population, which accounts for over 65% of its inhabitants under 25 years old. Commemorating World Population Day, the nation champions the theme: « Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people – today and for the future ».
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Ministry of Plan are jointly underscoring a critical message: the future prosperity of the DRC hinges on our collective ability to transform the immense potential of its youth into a powerful engine for national growth. Amidst evolving global demographics, the DRC strategically positions its youthful age structure as a significant asset for progress.
“Lives, Choices and Futures” Survey: Unveiling Youth Aspirations
A groundbreaking UNFPA report, stemming from a survey of 100,000 young individuals across 73 countries, challenges conventional perceptions about youth desires. Congolese youth, mirroring their global counterparts, express a strong desire to build families. However, they face substantial structural impediments, including economic instability, precarious employment opportunities, and housing challenges.
A significant 88% of these young people identify financial security as an indispensable prerequisite for parenthood. This finding reveals not a diminishing interest in family life, but rather a profound demand for greater opportunities and stability.
It is clear that demographic policies rooted in coercion are destined to fail if they do not address the very barriers identified by young people themselves. As one young community leader aptly put it: « It’s not just about choosing to have fewer children. It’s about having fewer choices ».
DRC: Transforming Challenges into Development Drivers
In response to ongoing crises, particularly in the eastern regions of the country, UNFPA and the Congolese Government are strengthening their collaborative efforts. Their commitment, fully aligned with the National Strategic Development Plan (PNSD 2024-2028), is focused on two pivotal areas:
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UNFPA is a staunch advocate for enhanced access to reproductive health services and quality education. This empowers young individuals, especially vulnerable girls and women, to exercise complete autonomy over their bodies and their life trajectories.
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UNFPA is assisting the DRC in expediting the second General Population and Housing Census (RGPH2) process. Simultaneously, it supports the development of Demographic Dividend (DD) profiles across various provinces, ensuring that investments are precisely targeted to address the most pressing needs of young people.
A Call for Profitable Investment
UNFPA emphasizes that investing in youth should not be viewed as a budgetary burden, but rather as the most productive and impactful investment a nation can make. Genuine prosperity will only materialize when young people are equipped with the resources and opportunities to contribute fully to the national edifice.
« Young people – from north to south, 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 form the families they desire, and to fulfill their hopes and aspirations », a UNFPA representative affirmed.
Both UNFPA and the Ministry of Plan extend an invitation to all development partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector to engage in a constructive dialogue. The goal is to fundamentally reshape the narrative surrounding youth and collectively forge the Congolese nation of tomorrow – one that is innovative, robust, and resilient.