DRC has the third largest population of poor globally (WB), 73% of the population living on less than 1,9$day. Political Instability in eastern DRC has led to a displacement of rural populations towards cities leading to extreme poverty and inequalities, hampering their ability to pay for basic goods and services. Restrictive laws and customary practices set high legal hurdles for women entrepreneurs. Lacking collateral, ultra poor cannot benefit from microfinances. Microcredit does not reach the ultra-poor entirely. When Business environment is difficult, the informal economy tends to expand, it is estimated to represent some 70% of the economy. For instance:

• Poor roads and the lack of a good public transport system mean that a majority of Congolese use motorcycles to get around. There are more than 150,000 motorcycle taxi drivers in DRC but majority don’t own them as it is expensive. They work for owner who can repossess it. Not owning the productive tool make their job insecure.

• Vast majority of rural farming families today lack access to basic agricultural tools because they cannot afford credit to buy these tools as too poor and no collateral.

• Inadequacy and current obsolescence of road make it difficult for smallholder’s farmers to move their products to center of consumption.

Though traditional fishing methods, fishing opportunities offered by Kivu Lake are dominated by men, women not empowered enough to be on equal foot with their male counterpart. 90% Sellers of Sambaza fish are women but work for the fisherman and earn just 2% per kilo sold