Democratic Republic of Congo

Working areas

STEP works in DRC to extend the coverage of social protection for the poor and excluded, it relies its actions mainly on healthcare micro-insurance schemes.

Once installed in the country, the programme has worked to identify the healthcare mutual organizations, in particular those in Kinshasa and has noticed that most of the mutual organizations were created « on the fly » from a local initiative with good will and available resources. Most of these organizations have been created recently and do not have defined development stages (creation, learning and growth, equilibrium) for them to intend to enter a coherent structuring process.

Most initiatives for mutual organizations were conceived without access to basic technical knowledge on the subject. Only a few had the skills and information needed to develop into better organized and better structured schemes. Consequently, the organizations don’t know or don’t manage properly healthcare insurance techniques. They lack of different management tools (actuarial calculations, management and follow-up tools) necessary for a good functioning and development.

Principal objectives

Within the framework of its activities in DRC, STEP works to reinforce associations of mutual organizations, federations and mutual association unions, among which, at a urban level: UMCC (l’Union Nationale des Mutualités Chrétiennes du Congo), MUSECKIN (Mutuelle des Enseignants des Écoles Catholiques de Kinshasa et la population de la commune de Kisenso); and at a rural level, there is a micro finance scheme organized by formation sanitaire (health formations) in health areas of Kisentu. This reinforcement consists in training sessions for micro insurance managers, technical assistance, etc.

Additionally, STEP works for the promotion of the extension of social protection through the consolidation of workers’ and employers’ organizations which contribute to define and develop social protection schemes in order to satisfy the needs of its members. In this context, the programme works together with UNTC (Union Nationale des Travailleurs du Congo) and FEC (Fédération des Entreprises du Congo) to support them in a feasibility study about the installation of healthcare mutual organisations for companies and labour unions.

In order to create a positive institutional and political environment at the community based social protection schemes, STEP works to reinforce the structure of LIMUCO (Ligue Nationale des Mutuelles du Congo). The programme has also worked for the revival of a working group for healthcare mutual organizations and participates actively in its activities. This group puts together the main actors in mutual organization field (technical structures of the Ministries concerned, developing partnerships, mutual organizations representation, service providers network). They meet regularly to discuss topics related to the main problem of the development of healthcare mutual organizations. The group also works as an energy conductor and offers the opportunity of a cooperation framework that allows to prepare and enrich debates necessary for the decision making, mainly in national policies for healthcare mutual organizations and furthermore, in national policies of social protection.

More information

• Neglected Poor in Africa Make Their Own Safety Nets

Contacts