Sida's work in Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the world's poorest countries, despite its rich natural resources, and has been marked by decades of armed conflict. Sida's work aims to contribute to peace, strengthen resilience to crises and bring long-term improvement to the population. Women's rights are a high-profile issue. Sida also provides humanitarian assistance to those most affected by conflict, natural disasters and epidemics.
Sida’s support in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2025
Why do Sida work in DRC?
Human rights are being violated
The DRC is ranked among the least democratic countries in the world. Democratic institutions are weak, corruption is widespread, violence against women is rife, and the human rights situation is serious. In the eastern parts of the country, armed conflicts are ongoing between regional armed groups, whilst the internationally supported peace process is yielding limited results.
Major security problems and armed violence
In eastern DRC, armed groups are carrying out attacks against the civilian population and the Congolese army. State control is limited in several areas, including North and South Kivu, where the M23, with support from Rwanda, has held power over state institutions since January 2025, and the protracted violence has forced millions of people to flee within the country.
Crucial for the climate transition
Deforestation is increasing and rainfall is decreasing. The Congo Basin rainforest, the world’s second-largest rainforest, is vital for biodiversity and for combating climate change. The vast mineral resources are crucial for the world’s climate transition and global electrification. At the same time, corruption, violence and exploitation surrounding the mining industry contribute to increased vulnerability, particularly for people living in poverty and indigenous peoples.
Examples of what Sida contributes to
More people are being convicted
Sida supports efforts to combat impunity and strengthens civil society’s work on human rights, which has led to more trials and convictions for human rights violations.
Peacebuilding and increased resilience
Sida helps to strengthen the rule of law, increase resilience through employment and bring power closer to the people. Aid has contributed to plans for disarmament and demilitarisation, enabling people to return to their homes and reintegrate into society, and to increased social cohesion.
Contributing to the global climate transition
Sida supports the sustainable use of natural resources through training for farmers and foresters and equipment for sustainable forestry, reduced logging and agroforestry. The development of seeds that are better able to withstand climate change makes life easier for small-scale farmers. Investment in renewable energy leads to reduced carbon dioxide emissions.
Sida's work in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sida carries out development cooperation that contributes to the country’s long-term development. We also provide humanitarian aid to save lives and alleviate suffering in emergency situations.
Sida works to combat corruption and promote democracy, greater gender equality and respect for human rights. Here are some examples of programmes and projects supported by Sida:
Through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO), Sida contributes to important reforms in the justice sector and to monitoring and documenting the human rights situation. UNJHRO and the organisation TRIAL International provide technical support for government investigations and knowledge to bring war criminals to justice.
Access to paper newspapers and independent media is limited. Sida supports the training of journalists and the operation of local radio stations through Internews Europe, as well as the production of public theatre shows on current political issues, helping to raise public awareness of important issues.
Human rights defenders risk persecution and detention. Despite some improvements, civil society organisations are also under pressure. Diakonia and several local organisations are strengthening the capacity of civil society to contribute to the democratic system, increase respect for human rights and increase the political participation of youth and women.
Tanganyika province is severely affected by conflicts over natural resources. At the same time, women bear a heavy burden in terms of livelihoods.
Sida is supporting a project to increase farmers’ opportunities for sustainable production and livelihoods, for example through training in better farming methods and market engagement. Part of the project is the social Dimitra clubs, which have increased both gender equality and the degree of self-sufficiency. The project is also being implemented in Kasai and Kasai Centre, post-conflict areas in central DRC.
Sida works to improve access to equitable healthcare and nutritious food. Women, young people and children are given particular priority. Promoting respect for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is another key area of work.
Here are some examples of programmes and projects supported by Sida:
473 out of 100,000 women die in pregnancy or childbirth.6 The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Congolese organisation SANRU are working with Swedish support to improve the country’s maternal and child health services, and are training midwives to identify and provide care to rape victims.
Few women who do not want to get pregnant have access to modern contraception, and awareness of issues such as HIV/AIDS is very low.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and DKT International are working to ensure that people have access to services such as maternal health and contraception, with a particular focus on young people. The organisations train health workers. They also inform young people about gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health.
Although the right to abortion is enshrined in law, few people in the health sector and the legal system are aware of it. IPAS raises awareness and knowledge of what the law means in order to speed up implementation.
Sida strengthens people’s resilience and contributes to peacebuilding. Here are some examples of programmes and projects supported by Sida:
Sida contributes to building resilience to crises in conflict areas through several partnerships, including Women of Africa. Interpeace and the Life and Peace Institute work on dialogue and peacebuilding in the country’s eastern provinces. The organisations exchange experiences and knowledge that improve the work.
Sida contributes to strengthening the rule of law and bringing power closer to the people through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Sida has been one of the few donors to help develop plans for disarmament, demobilisation, resettlement and reintegration of displaced people and social cohesion.
The Congolese army is recruiting fewer and fewer children. But at the same time, the various armed groups are recruiting more and more children. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is helping both adults and children formerly involved in armed groups to return to normal life, including through training in peaceful conflict resolution, getting children into school and providing cash assistance to households struggling to make ends meet.
Sida’s work in the climate area contributes to giving more people access to renewable energy, helping farmers to better withstand climate change and reduced rainfall, and promoting sustainable forestry. Here are some examples of programmes and projects supported by Sida:
Cooking with wood and charcoal is very bad for human health and kills about four million people a year in sub-Saharan Africa. Through support to the Modern Cooking Facility for Africa, Sida is helping to accelerate market development and market access for companies investing in sustainable cooking methods. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, this work contributes to better health for women and girls, who spend a lot of time cooking.
The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) was launched by Sida in 2016 to provide access to electricity for people living in areas without national electricity grids. Many poor consumers spend a very large part of their income on substandard forms of energy. By mobilising private investment and helping renewable energy companies to develop their products and bring them to market, BGFA is helping to ensure that people have access to renewable, cheap and reliable energy instead. BGFA is present in several African countries.
Deforestation, pollution and poaching reduce biodiversity. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) run the PIREDD project in Equateur province in the DRC. The project, co-funded by Sida, engages local people in sustainable forest management, which also provides them with new livelihood opportunities. The project also strengthens people’s rights to the land on which they depend for their survival.
Millions of people are in need of humanitarian aid – in one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Sida’s humanitarian aid provides people with access to, for example, shelter, clean water, food and healthcare. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the countries receiving the most humanitarian aid in 2026.
Sida works with international humanitarian organisations and civil society organisations, prioritising those people most in need of support.
Sida’s humanitarian aid in Sudan saves lives and alleviates suffering.
In the humanitarian crisis analysis, you can read about the crisis and see which partner organisations are working there in 2026.
The strategy has been extended until the Swedish government makes a decision.
Updated: May 12, 2026