This thread is dedicated to the Academica/Education news. only.
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This is an initiative that would raise more different layers of the population to support the resumption of activities of micro-finance. It bears the seal of the Federal Republic of Germany through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) opened January 15, 2009 in Kinshasa a new course of study for experts in micro-finance, says a press release January 4, 2009 from Bonn in Germany. African students, notes the source, learn the tool to the granting and administration of small loans. Such micro-credits have already been proven in many countries as a way out of poverty.
In Germany, it is usually easy to open an account. This is not the case in the DRC where there are few banks which, moreover, have access to the rich. Similarly, only the wealthy have a chance to get a loan. For things to change, the model of micro-finance instruments confirmed worldwide, is also used in the DRC. Thanks to small loans and micro-credit, women and men in need can become entrepreneurs. Is the main goal of this program.
Unfortunately, experts in micro-finance are extremely rare in Africa. Therefore, small loans have been offered so far few. The "center of excellence in micro-finance" Kinshasa is intended to fill this gap. It is a cooperation between the Protestant University of Congo and the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management. In this center, young Africans with a first professional experience can apply for a scholarship for a masters program in micro-finance. Only the best candidates with excellent qualifications are admitted.
Ambassador Matthias Mülmenstädt, CEO of African Affairs, who represented the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the opening of the center, said about the new curriculum: "(...) The micro-finance is the 'backbone of small and micro-enterprises as an engine of growth in developing countries and transition (...)».
Partners in Frankfurt and Kinshasa had participated with 70 other university cooperation to a call for candidates organized by the DAAD. In addition to the center of excellence in the DRC, four more centers were opened in Ghana, Tanzania, Namibia and South Africa. The course will study the development of logistics and public health through law. The program is funded with assistance from the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
SIZE AND COVERAGE OF THE MICRO-FINANCE
The context of microfinance in the DRC is inseparable from political and economic context. The country has suffered greatly from the conflict and its consequences have severely hit: between 1995 and 2000, GNP declined by 40%, the currency depreciated at an annual rate of 62% per year and inflation hit rate to 3 or 4 digits (511% in 2000). Has added to that the withdrawal of international aid, which made its return in 2001.
However, measures taken by authorities in the reconstruction process, especially the liberalization of interest rates and controlling inflation, have led to a restart of the financial sector.
The history of microfinance in the DRC is long term. It began in the colonial period with co-operative societies. Between 1970 and 1990, COOPEC (Cooperative Savings and Credit) have emerged in the country and are located in remote locations without banks. In 1987, COOPEC held the equivalent of 7% of the savings bank sector. With the period of political crisis and war that marked the 1990s, the Congolese financial system was severely undermined by looting, hyper-inflation (the inability of the institutions of the system of decentralized financing of Congo (ISFD) find a safe haven) and monetary measures inconsistent. The COOPEC lost between 1991 and 1993 nearly 80% of their customers and 66% of funds in the deposit banks.
Today, the formal banking sector is regarded as virtually devastated: the chronic under funding, the utilization rate of lending is low, prudential standards are struggling to be respected. A large amount of money available is found outside the banking system. As an illustration, in late August 2005, the monetary base in the Congolese franc was $ 122.7 billion, of which 106.2 billion (86%) circulating outside bank.
In the area of micro-finance is emerging with more than 200 structures, but this figure does not include many informal systems (tontine, support groups ...). However, despite this figure, the penetration rate remains extremely low. The sector is now characterized by a lack of professionalism of its structures, when the future activities of intermediation requires institutions of viable micro-finance can offer the poor, sustainable access to financial services.
In DRC, the services of micro-finance are offered by unions and credit NGOs (non governmental), corporations and businesses of micro-finance, corporate money transfer, and more Recently, with new specialized banks and some banks exploring the market for mass banking services.
Do you think they are Congolese? These megga corrupt pre-historic dush bugs are not Congolese. You can't treat a country this way and then claim to be a patriot.Un-patriotic Congolese leaders. I wonder if the WB deal with education is still going or has been halted due to money ending up in people pockets
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has made significant progress in education and child survival in recent years, but much more needs to be done to achieve the anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), according to a new United Nations-backed study.
Three out of four children now go to school, a 23 per cent increase over 2000 with near parity for girls and boys, the fourth Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), a core research tool for the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), reported.
“This study shows that we have made significant progress over the last decade,” UNICEF Representative Pierrette Vu Thi said of the latest MICS, which covers topics including but not limited to demography, health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, and socio-economic indicators.
“We must continue our efforts with vigour to reach every child in this country, which is nearly as vast as Western Europe,” she added.
Le Potentiel by CourtesyDans le cadre de son programme «Education», le Royaume de Belgique vient, à travers la Coopération technique belge, de réhabiliter et équiper huit bâtiments de l’école primaire St.Charles Lwanga à Barumbu, comprenant les salles de classes et locaux administratifs. C’était hier mercredi 20 octobre 2010 qu’il a été procédé à l’inauguration officielle de cette œuvre en présence de MM. Dominique Struye de Swielande, Pierre Dulieu et She Okitundu, respectivement ambassadeur du Royaume de Belgique en République démocratique du Congo, représentant résidant de la CTB en RDC et sénateur congolais.
L’ambassadeur du Royaume de Belgique qui intervenait pour la circonstance a mis un accent particulier sur la coopération qui existe entre son pays et la République démocratique du Congo. Elle porte plus sur l’éducation et l’agriculture. Tout en se déclarant heureux de voir son pays offrir aux enfants congolais un cadre agréable d’études, Dominique Struye de Swielande espère que ces bâtiments seront maintenus dans un état de propreté.
Même son de cloche pour le représentant de l’APEC (Association des parents des écoles catholiques) qui a émis le vœu de voir le gestionnaire de cette école garder les bâtiments réhabilités en bon père de famille. Fils de la commune de Barumbu, l’honorable She Okitundu a remercié toutes les autorités belges qui se sont impliquées pour la réalisation de ce projet.
Représentant résidant de la CTB en RDC, Pierre Dulieu a rappelé que le Royaume de la Belgique a contribué pour un montant de 200.000 euros à la demande de la réhabilitation des bâtiments de l’école St.Charles Lwanga, initiée par la Société civile et relayée par l’honorable She Okitundu.
L’objectif de ce projet est d’améliorer les conditions de scolarisation de plus de 800 élèves. Pour une année, les travaux dont la convention de mise en œuvre a été signée en date du 25 mai 2009, ont démarré en mars 2010. L’attribution d’un marché pour la fourniture de l’équipement des salles de classes a été effectuée pour la fabrication de 120 bancs scolaires, 24 bureaux, 24 chaises et 24 armoires. Au courant du mois de mai 2010, le cahier spécial des charges pour les travaux a été lancé. Et après l’analyse des offres, le marché a été attribué le 23 juin 2010 à l’entreprise BATEC SPRL pour un montant de 57.860,40 euros hors travaux d’électrification.
A ce jour, les travaux suivants ont été réalisés : réfection des charpentes, des toitures en tôles ciment et métalliques ; menuiserie métallique pour portes et fenêtres ; travaux de maçonnerie pour réfection des pourtours des bâtiments ; réfection du préau métallique qui menace de s’effondrer ; mise en place de deux citernes de collecte d’eau pluviale pour, d’une part, diminuer les flux d’eau pluviale et, d’autre part, avoir des réserves d’eau sanitaire pour les écoliers ; peinture intérieure et extérieure de l’ensemble des bâtiments ; fourniture de bancs pour les classes réhabilitées et de bureaux pour les professeurs ; installation de poubelles dans la cour de récréation ; construction d’une nouvelle fosse sceptique étanche pour faire fonctionner le bloc latrines ; électrification de l’ensemble des bâtiments, y incluse la connexion du réseau SNEL ; fourniture du matériel didactique pour les élèves