Republic of Congo

Why Congo?

The Republic of Congo has regained some stability since civil war in the 1990s devastated its economy, but many challenges remain for this smaller neighbor of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Though Congo is one of the main producers of oil in sub-Saharan African, few benefit from this resource, with 54 percent of the population living under $1.25 a day. In 2012, the World Bank again classified Congo as one of the hardest countries in which to do business, ranking it 181 out of 183 countries. Explosions in March 2012 at a munitions depot in the capital city of Brazzaville killed over 200 people and injured and displaced thousands.

HOPE in Congo

Since beginning in 2010, HOPE’s newest credit-led program has grown to serve over 4,000 clients in Congo’s capital city of Brazzaville. These men and women are using their loans to grow their businesses—which range from food stands to sandal stalls to used clothing shops—into profitable ventures that will support them and their families. Each community bank meeting is structured to include time for worship, Scripture, and biblically based training, giving loan officers time to develop relationships with clients, disciple them, and share practical business principles that clients can use to improve their businesses. As one HOPE Congo loan officer shared, the most rewarding part of his job is "sharing the word of God with clients and empowering their lives."