Haut-Katanga Gender Minister Hails Sierra Leone’s Women Empowerment Initiatives

By Sahr Ibrahim Komba
Provincial Minister of Gender, Family and Children for Haut-Katanga Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Madam Coco Kanku Lukengu, has described Sierra Leone’s Gender and Equality Accountability Framework as an inspiring initiative that could provide valuable lessons for strengthening women’s economic empowerment in Haut-Katanga.
Minister Lukengu made the remarks following her participation in the launch of the Government of Sierra Leone’s official Gender and Equality Accountability Framework, an initiative aimed at strengthening accountability and advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.
She expressed gratitude to the Governor of Haut-Katanga Province, Martin Kazembe Shula, for authorizing her participation in the programme alongside the DRC’s National Minister of Gender, Family and Children, Micheline Omba.
The provincial minister also thanked UN Women and the Government of Sierra Leone for the invitation, describing the initiative as an important platform that places gender equality and women’s empowerment at the centre of public action.
The meeting brought together government officials and development partners from Sierra Leone, Nigeria and the DRC, including ministers responsible for gender affairs, representatives of UN Women from the three countries and representatives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
As part of the programme, the delegation also visited a group of women who have benefited from UN Women-supported economic empowerment initiatives in Sierra Leone.
Minister Lukengu said the visit was particularly impressive because the women had moved beyond agricultural production to processing and value addition, allowing them to increase their incomes and access wider markets.
According to her, the women produce crops including rice and cassava, while also processing cassava into a range of marketable products such as chips, yoghurt, agricultural inputs and poultry feed.
She said the experience demonstrated that women’s empowerment should not be limited to providing access to agricultural production, but should also include support for processing, value addition, market access, financing, equipment and skills development.
“This Sierra Leonean experience represents a true source of inspiration for us,” Minister Lukengu said, emphasizing the potential for adapting some of the initiatives to realities of Haut-Katanga Province.
She noted that Haut-Katanga has significant agricultural potential as well as opportunities for women’s entrepreneurship, adding that the provincial government intends to explore ways of strengthening support for women in agricultural processing and other economic activities.
Minister Lukengu said such efforts would be pursued with the political commitment of Governor Martin Kazembe Shula and in collaboration with technical and development partners, particularly UN Women in the DRC.
She also commended Dr. Sètchémè Jérônime M. Mongbo, Head of UN Women DRC, for her support and commitment to advancing women’s empowerment.
The provincial minister said the delegation returned to the DRC with valuable lessons from Sierra Leone and would consider how successful initiatives could be adapted and replicated in Haut-Katanga.
She stressed that with strong political will, effective partnerships and a clear development vision, women’s economic empowerment could become a major driver of sustainable development in Haut-Katanga Province.