Democratic Republic of Congo - Suspended Programme

Context at a glance

Houses in the Democratic Republic of Congo

From 1997 to 2003, the Democratic Republic of Congo endured one of the most severe civil wars ever experienced in Africa. Although the country was the first overseas project for Habitat for Humanity in 1976, after 29 years of operation, there are still many challenges due to political and social instability.

In recent years conflict between the armed forces and local militias has killed over three million people and left millions more displaced. Urban areas have become havens for refugees trying to escape insecurity and unemployment in the rural areas, leading to overcrowding and insufficient housing in the towns and cities.

Habitat for Humanity programme

In the aftermath of the devastation caused by the civil war, HFH staff, volunteers and local committee members resurrected the original Mbandaka project in 2003. Working with local authorities, they raised the repayment rate to 85% and began constructing new homes with the aid of the revolving fund.

House costs remained affordable through the use of innovative and locally available technology. Termite hills were used to produce cement-free, cost-free, durable mud bricks in Mbandaka and fired-bricks in the Bas-Congo province. Habitat also begun a new project near the international airport to build affordable houses with low-income families in an effort to address overcrowding in the capital city, Kinshasa. Over 2,700 houses have been built to help families out of housing poverty.

Unfortunately, since 2003, political instability has continued in the country and the programme struggled. In August 2007, the programme was suspended and there are no plans to continue building houses in the DRC in the foreseeable future.

Country Facts

Location: Central Africa
Climate: Tropical, hot and humid
Population: 56 million
Economy: Main exports are diamonds, copper, coffee, cobalt and crude oil
Government: Transitional government
Religions: Christianity, Islam and indigenous beliefs
Languages: French, Lingala, Swahili, Kikongo and Tshiluba

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