This subproject on entrepreneurship in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) seeks to improve the living conditions of vulnerable groups in the Katanga Copperbelt Area (KCA), particularly youth, women and marginalized populations, by fostering entrepreneurship and eco-friendly practices.
It focuses on building entrepreneurial capacity through academic training, continuous education programs, and the creation of support structures like a business incubation unit at UNILU. By addressing poverty, unemployment, and governance issues, the project aims to empower communities, promote economic growth through micro-enterprises, and build scientific research capacity by training PhD-qualified researchers to lead sustainable development efforts.
The study site is located in the KCA region (Sakania-Mokambo-Kasumbalesa-Kipushi-Lubumbashi-Likasi-Kolwezi-Kamoa)
Currently 3 PhDstudents are supported by this subproject:
Blanchard Musakabu Cheko (VUB)
Trésor Mutuila Mupeta (VUB)
Victoire Muheme Mukuzo (VUB)
Local Team Leader:
Prof. Pascale Sem Mbimbi (sem.pascal@gmail.com)
Local co-team leader:
Prof. Michel Kasombo Tshibanda (michelkasombo@gmail.com)
Flemish team leader:
Prof.Nikolay Dentchev (Nikolay.Dentchev@vub.be)
UNILU (students, teachers, laboratory and research center staff)
Provincial services (provincial divisions of environment, mining, health, rural development, gender, women and children, agriculture...) and public research centers and institutions (i.e. CRAA)
The populations of the (peri-)urban and rural areas of the KCA (represented by civil society, farmer’s organisations and women’s organizations like Femmes Entrepreneurs de RDC, SAFEKA, etc.
Mining companies & nonmining companies, private & public compagnies, Social entrepreneurs
International CSOs (NGOs, banks, ANADEC, FEC...) and higher institutes and universities, churches in KCA
International cooperation (Vlir-Uos, ARES…)
The subproject on Entrepreneurship includes a series of planned events and activities aimed at fostering entrepreneurial capacity and collaboration.
These include training sessions on managing a university incubator to equip academic staff with the necessary skills to support innovation, a Student Entrepreneurship Day to showcase and encourage student-led initiatives, and a Bootcamp in Morocco to provide participants with international exposure and advanced entrepreneurial training.
Additionally, a Women’s Entrepreneurship Day will be organized to celebrate and promote the role of women in entrepreneurship, and an Ecosystem Day will bring together stakeholders to strengthen networks and collaboration within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. These activities aim to inspire innovation, build capacity, and create synergies for sustainable development.