Rapid Labor Market Assessment: North Kivu and Ituri, DRC

Key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted in Butembo, Bunia, Komanda, and Mambasa identified technical skills as the greatest skills gap in the labor market. Technical skills are specialized to a specific industry or trade, such as auto mechanics, plumbing, carpentry, cooking, or agro-processing. Female focus groups also cited literacy and numeracy as a skills gap that negatively affected their economic opportunities. Youth and adult training providers were identified in EVD-affected communities, including the Division of Social Affairs, which offers literacy/numeracy courses and technical training, and private technical and vocational education training (TVET) centers. These resources are available to strengthen the labor supply in EVD-affected communities. The Scaling Up Ebola Response through Community Engagement (SUERCE) project conducted a rapid labor market assessment (LMA) to better understand the labor market and skills needs in these communities. The LMA found that sectors with current and future potential for market demand include agriculture, agro-processing, garment production, sales and trade, construction, transportation, and carpentry. FGD and KII respondents identified these sectors as having potential for growth. However, high taxes, physical insecurity, and lack of startup supplies were the three most frequently cited constraints to employment or self-employment. Notably, EVD was only cited by one of eight FGDs as a barrier to economic activities. Understanding the physical, social, and economic threats faced by communities in North Kivu and Ituri is crucial for the EVD response to engage with communities and build trust and acceptance. The SUERCE project aims to promote community engagement and acceptance of EVD response actors through wraparound humanitarian services in the economic recovery and market systems (ERMS) and water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sectors. The SUERCE project's LMA provides recommendations for humanitarian and development actors working in EVD-affected communities. The report identifies opportunities for youth and adult learning, including literacy/numeracy courses and technical training. It also highlights the need for community-based organizations and private sector actors to provide training and employment opportunities in sectors with potential for growth. By addressing the skills gaps and constraints to employment, the SUERCE project aims to promote economic recovery and improve the livelihoods of communities in North Kivu and Ituri.