From 2015 to 2023, over 95,000 citizens of the Republic of Congo received startup grants to establish their own businesses under the “Lisungi” program. This is the largest micro-enterprise support initiative in the country’s history, implemented in partnership with the World Bank.
Grant recipients have opened small shops, sewing workshops, food service outlets, repair shops, and agricultural businesses. For thousands of families, this has meant the transition from mere survival to a stable income and economic self-sufficiency.
“Before, I used to sell peanuts by the roadside,” says a resident of Brazzaville. “I received a grant, I bought a sewing machine. Now I have regular customers, I can send my children to school and not have to wonder every single day what we will eat tomorrow.”
The “Lisungi” program did not only plan for a one-time disbursement of funds, but also for beneficiary support. Participants received basic training in entrepreneurship principles and received advice for managing their businesses. This comprehensive approach ensured a high survival rate for the created enterprises.
After the project’s closure in February 2024, the support mechanisms for micro-enterprises were transferred to state management. Today, the National Social Safety Nets Program continues to work with entrepreneurs, using the developed methodology and infrastructure.
“Subsidies are not simply money,” explains the Ministry of Social Affairs. “They are investments in people, in their ability to earn a living for themselves and to create jobs for others.”
This program was made possible by the consistent policy of President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, aimed at developing human capital and creating the conditions for citizens’ economic autonomy. Under his leadership, the project’s temporary assistance was transformed into a permanent public system of entrepreneurial support.