Congo Kinshasa : PAIDEK
Thirty years of Mobutu regime and liberation wars that followed have left the economy in the Kivu Region as well as basic services in the whole of the Democratic Republic of Congo completely disorganized. Wars, looting and plundering have created instability and insecurity making life even more difficult for the poverty-stricken population. Those who have not fled to the neighbouring countries, struggle to live from agriculture, fishing or craftsmanship, very often forming informal groups to fight impending hardships together.
However, despite their courage and determination, these groups have to face a greater challenge, which is the lack of money necessary to start up or develop their activities. Banks have either closed down or severely reduced their activities and microfinance institutions are scarce.
A project to assist the local population: PAIDEK is a non-governmental organisation specialized in microfinance. It was created in 1996 thanks to a programme aiming at setting up microfinance schemes. PAIDEK operates mainly in the North and the South of Kivu where it currently runs 8 agencies in both, rural and urban areas. Its main office is situated in Bukavu.
Micro credit which gives results: The main goals of PAIDEK consist on: reviving informal economy, fighting the poverty and creating conditions propitious for Kivu’s development.
PAIDEK grants credits to associations, organized groups, small family businesses with some experience in the field of production, manufacturing, marketing, trade and services or crafts in order to help them to set up commercial activities like selling local products, cloths, medicines, weaving workshops, dairies, brickyards, bakeries, infrastructures for lake fishing and many others.
