Impact of Women's Economic Activities in The Republic of Congo from 1990 to 2019

Since the XXth century, and especially after the Second World War, particular attention was given to the status of women who for many years was overs had owed. These different events led policy makers at the international level as well as in different countries of the world to make courageous decisions globally in favor of women globally. These decisions have enabled women to take flight both by integrating socially themselves and by taking beneficial actions that could contribute to the economic and social development of their respective countries. On the economic level in particular, Congolese women exercise many activities related to their own initiative or to collective action, these different activities contribute to the economic development of the Republic of Congo. In the economic field, the man alone cannot ensure the development of the country, the Congolese woman also contributes to this development. 


I. Introduction
Since the Congo's independence, the Congolese woman has joined forces with the man to contribute to the development of the country. Representing more than half of the population, or 52 %. 1 The is involved in the social life of the family and plays a decisive role in production, particularly in food security in both rural and urban areas. It was around the 1980s and 1990s that the department in charge of the advancement of women and the integration of women in development through its theory of approach: " Integration of women in development "guided this towards the promotion of activities in favor of women, a methodology allowing to integrate the concerns of women in the projects of the technical structures of the State understood as a key player and regulator of development. This development concept is complex insofar as it acquires several meanings, depending on whether one is in economics, sociology and psychology or in such or such other discipline of the human sciences.

II. Literature review
On the social level, Congolese women exercise many activities linked to their own initiative or to collective action, these different activities contribute to the social development of the Republic of Congo. This article main goal is to show the impact of the social actions of women in the Republic of Congo from 1990 to 2019.
In the economic field, the man alone cannot ensure the development of the country, the Congolese woman also contributes to this development. Few studies have focused on the contribution of Congolese women to the socioeconomic development of the Congo. However, none of this work deals exhaustively and in detail with the subject of our study. However, some of them are likely to light our lantern.
The few rare works that we have consulted are the following: UNESCO, 1991, Literacy for women : NGO action , Paris, France, 55p 2 In this brochure, UNESCO presents the contribution of non-governmental organizations to women's literacy, as well as the importance of women's literacy. According to her, literacy for women is more urgent, because of the 962.6 million illiterate adults, more than half are women. UN 3 , 2007, Women's participation in development, Report of the Secretary-General , 07-4497322, 22p. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 60/210, the present report addresses measures taken in response to the resolution, including the increased participation of women in government decision-making bodies and its impact on the eradication of poverty. The recommendations contained in this report are submitted to the General Assembly for consideration.
MPFIFD , 2008, National Gender Policy of Congo , Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, 45p. In this document, the MPFIFD revealed that the condition of women is still characterized by many inequalities.
UNDP, 2016, Human Development in Africa Report 2016: Accelerating progress towards gender equality and the empowerment of women in Africa, New York, 14p. This report examines the efforts being made by African countries to accelerate the empowerment of women at all levels of society, within households and the community in the areas of health and education, work and in terms of political participation and leadership.
Sassou N ' Guesso Danièle, 2016, Gender and development in the Republic of Congo, A gender inequality for the benefit of growth , Paris, L'Harmattan 4 120p. According to the author, the reconciliation of quantitative (statistics on the state of gender equality) and qualitative (representations of women in "focus groups") data in the relationship between gender and development clearly demonstrates the positive impact that improved gender relations can have on the development of the Congo. In order to achieve such a result, it is essential that gender parity occupies a central place in the Congolese version of the conceptual development framework proposed by the World Bank.
OIM, 2003, The role of women in reconstruction and development in the Democratic Republic of Congo , Geneva, 184p 5 . African societies are still too often marked by ethnic cleavages and warlike behavior; of which we know to what extent they hinder the chances of success of the efforts undertaken by politicians to reach a lasting agreement. In this context, the share taken by women in reconstruction and post-conflict situations is particularly important, although still insufficiently recognized. They are more and more often responsible for the home, which in many cases has become a single parent, and their driving function in social progress is obvious.
African Development Bank 6 , 2015, Empowering African women: Action plan, Gender Equality Index in Africa 2015 , Abidjan 01, Côte d'Ivoire, 35p. To help understand the dynamics of gender equality and how it affects African development, the African Development Bank publishes its first Gender Equality Index. The Index, which covers 52 of the 54 African countries and brings together a large body of data, provides an overview of the legal, social and economic gaps between men and women. Its findings provide African leaders, policy makers, economists and civil society with evidence that they must begin to break down the barriers that prevent women from fully contributing to the development of the continent. In addition, the report identifies eight areas in which concerted action could make a real difference in the ability of women to contribute to the development of Africa.
III. Women in human, natural and energy resources

1.Women in agro-pastoral and fishery activities
In Congo, women participate in all agro-pastoral and fishery activities.
In the field of agriculture, Congolese women represent 64% of the active population. 7 They occupy an important place in this activity compared to men. It is them who prepare the future fields (clearing, clearing plowing); they sow from the first rains and maintain the crops. Finally, they ensure the harvesting of products, part of which is intended for self-consumption and the other for processing (cassava, tobacco, peanuts, palm nuts, etc.) and for its marketing. Congolese women then contribute to the socio-economic development of their locality and even of the Congo. In large urban centers such as Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, many young mothers or unemployed graduates are interested in market gardening that they practice along the rivers ( Djoué , Tsiémé , Loandjili ...), in abandoned or reserved public areas (Kronenbourg, Agri-Congo, etc.) and in private plots.These women provide most of the vegetables consumed in these cities.
According to Georgette BamanaDandou , " Women ensure all food production and participate 100% in processing operations " 8 .
According to the MPFIFD report, the Congolese insure 60% to 80% of the subsistence population. They contribute almost 100% in the field of artisanal processing of agricultural products. 9 In the same vein, Fatoumata Kane wrote : Women are not only responsible for the production process, especially in terms of food crops of which they produce 70%, they are responsible for processing and preserving food, but (…) they also help men in field crops, handle the processing and marketing of harvested products. Sowing, weeding, harvesting, packaging are, by tradition, reserved for her. These multiple activities participate in the definition of female identity and her social status. 10 The agricultural activities practiced by Congolese women enable them to provide for their families. They also participate in the development of the locality, even that of the region they inhabit. It is in this context that Yvonne Preiswerk wrote : In agricultural work, the role of the man generally consists in supervising his working wife. The work of women is all the more painful because, in addition to work in the family fields, they are responsible for the hut gardens. This situation gives them a fundamental role in determining the nutritional status of the population thanks to their eating habits and the care they provide in particular to children and vulnerable groups.  Another important role played by women in improving family food security is their contribution to family income. This monetary supplement is gaining importance since the application of the "price truth" policy, which prevents many farmers from developing their land. Thanks to the paid work they do in the informal sector, they help during the lean season to buy food. 11 In terms of animal production, women are present in poultry farming and the breeding of small ruminants (sheep, goats and pigs) reserved for self-consumption and donations for weddings and family visits.
In the fisheries sector, to meet the family's food needs, the peasants practice continental artisanal fishing in rivers, ponds and lakes. This is especially observed in the countryside where the latter, in groups or individually, only practice fishing with the basket and the dike, while the other methods of continental and maritime artisanal fishing are only reserved for men. In this regard, in its National Gender Policy of 2008, the MPFIFD states: In this sector, women cover around 60% of the smoking, drying, salting and marketing activities. Among their tasks, there is also the transportation of fishing equipment to the camps. 12 .
He adds in his 2016 report in these terms: Regarding fishing, there is a division of labor between men and women. Fishing on a large scale and on large waters remains a male activity, especially that which is practiced at night. Women practice basket and line fishing, emptying ponds and building dikes. They provide 60% of the processing and marketing of fishery products and manufacture fishing equipment (baskets, traps, baskets) 13 In addition, Congolese women are very active in the processing of fishery products (dried and smoked salted fish) which they ultimately market. They represent 80% of the active population in continental fishing. In fish farming, the contribution of women is not negligible, because, far from producing, they ensure the fertilization and maintenance of ponds, and the feeding of fish.
Since 1985, Congolese women have remained 100% involved in food production. They supply local and urban markets with products in the hope of later ensuring food self-sufficiency and food security in Congo. In fact, in rural areas, these Congolese women manage to achieve self-sufficiency and food security for their families. They always store and keep part of their agricultural production, in granaries. It is in this context that Georgette Bamana Dandou said: The attic is the place of predilection, a reserve exploited by the woman to, on the one hand, meet the food needs of the family, and on the other hand, to save the semen. 14 According to Mariam Traore : Women in rural areas are involved not only in activities of common interest, but also in mutual aid and multifaceted support activities. This situation reveals rural women as a fully-fledged player in local development.

2.The role of women in supplying the country with drinking water
From ancient societies to the present day, women have always been linked to the question of water. It is the leading provider of drinking water consumed in households, markets, cities and Congolese countryside. According to the UNDP : In sub-Saharan Africa, in 71% of cases, women and girls are responsible for fetching water for the household. 16 This is also the case in Congo. In an urban or rural environment, it is the woman who goes in search of water, draws it, conserves it and even sells it as illustrated in the following images. In addition, Congolese women sometimes travel long distances to obtain drinking water (for example in the Bateke plateaus, the outlying districts of Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire).
Many women, hydraulic engineers, work for the Congolese of Water (CW) which replaced the National Water Distribution Company (SNDE). These participate in the production, processing and distribution of this basic foodstuff for the Congolese population. These technicians also oversee and help repair and regulate water supply connections.
They also play well, within this society, the roles of cashiers and distributors of water consumption bills in households.During our investigations at the Mayo and Okiessi companies, it was revealed to us that within these companies, Congolese women contribute to the production of mineral water consumed in the Congo. In addition to her duties as administrator and technician, she also ensures the storage, transport (as a driver) and the marketing of this commodity.

3.The woman in the production of electricity
The production of electricity in Congo is guaranteed by the Society Energy of Electricity du Congo (E 2 C) which replaced the Société Nationale d' Electricité (SNE) on July 27, 2018. Certain rural areas of the country are lit by the thermal energy managed by a few private companies including RMT. Within these electricity companies, Congolese women are also active in both the production and distribution of electricity throughout the national territory.
Although they are few in this society, Congolese women play the role of technicians and especially administrators. As technicians, they are competent in setting up the electrical network, installing thermal power plants and mounting solar panels, as well as troubleshooting electricity transformers. Anthony Boenec , manager of the RMT company which trained and made young girls work in Kindamba during the accelerated municipalization in the Pool department, argued : Interested parties have acquired know-how on the installation of solar panels and the unwinding of electric cables. Currently these girls, almost a dozen, operate professionally in this locality without complex. Ultimately, they will be able to maintain all of the infrastructure. 17 On the administrative level, within these companies, Congolese women perform the functions of directors, secretaries and cashiers ..

4.The woman in oil
Hydrocarbons consist of petroleum and natural gas. The Congo has numerous hydrocarbon deposits exploited in the south of the country, in the departments of Kouilou ( Moho -Bilondo , Moho -Nord) and Pointe-Noire ( Mbundi , Indian point). Their production is constantly evolving, including 15 million tonnes per year for oil and 1.2 billion m 3 per year for natural gas. The increase in oil production places the Congo fourth among the producing countries of black gold in sub-Saharan Africa after Nigeria, Angola and Equatorial Guinea. The distribution and marketing of Congolese oil is ensured by the SNPC (National Society of Petroleum of Congo). Natural gas is distributed by the GPL-SA (Congolese company of liquefied petroleum gases). In these societies, women are also active. A minority of them participate in the production of these hydrocarbons as engineers, technicians and mechanics. However, they are very numerous in administration and commercial service. In this regard, the Communication and Public Relations Department of the SNPC announced: Since its creation, the SNPC has always given pride of place to women in positions of responsibility. Because equality is a fundamental human right. By complying with international conventions that the Congo has ratified in matters of women's rights, it is, within the SNPC, represented in the spheres of decision-making administers and in positions of expertise related to the petroleum trades as well as in related trades. And speaking of the place of the Congolese woman within the GPL-SA, François Alabée said: Although the production of natural gas is a male-dominated, risky and handling activity, within the GPL-SA, women are very numerous in sectors such as administration, accounting and marketing. They are poorly represented in the production, storage, unloading and transport of butane, which require strength and expose to several dangers. 20

IV. Women in the production of goods and services
The Congolese woman is the main provider of goods and services in the country.

1.The woman in entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship has always been an activity mainly reserved for men. But today, around the world, in the Congo in particular, women are getting more and more into the business world. Despite the numerous difficulties they encounter, their number is increasing significantly. They create businesses, societies and companies in which they offer employment to some young girls and boys. According to Monique Makanga : Experience has shown that when women have the opportunity to develop their own businesses, countries benefit greatly, because they are not only businesswomen, but also social entrepreneurs. 21 In the same vein, Emilienne Moukarusagara said: Women have creative talents that they mobilize every day to reconcile the different identities that society makes them bear and others that remain on the back burner because the opportunities to express them frequently do not arise. 22 However, it is peaceful that in the Congo, women are very active in the informal sector. Indeed, the informal sector as opposed to the formal sector, is an unstructured socio-economic dynamic. Its particularity is that it operates outside the legal frameworks, without benefits or protection of any kind. They are micro-enterprises which are often mobile due to the independence of the players. Congolese women create, practice and develop informal activities such as hairdressing, aesthetics, tontines, mutual, market gardening and petty trading.
These different informal activities provide jobs and income and are a factor in social equilibrium. Indeed, by practicing these different activities, Congolese women become independent actresses and provide for their family needs. On this subject, Danièle Sassou N ' Guesso wrote: Working in the informal sector has several advantages for women. First of all, they can intervene in the Congo development effort. Then, they acquire, thanks to the income from their activity, a solid lever which allows them to effectively assume their responsibilities within households to the point of gradually asserting themselves as real partners for their spouses or partners. 27 They also contribute to the fall in unemployment and ease social tensions by recruiting and training other citizens whom they pay. Some contribute to the public coffers, by paying certain taxes to the public treasury. In the same vein, Athanase Jaurès Moussoungou wrote: Hairdressing, as a nearby lucrative activity, acquires its importance to the point of constituting for women who undertake in this invaluable field a source of beneficial income, both for themselves and for the municipality which benefits from it within the framework of revenues tax. 28

2.Women in industry and crafts
In Congo, the industry is still in its infancy. She is inconsistent, uncompetitive and largely extroverted. However, bases exist for its development. In this economic sector, women are insufficiently represented. They often work in the processing industries. This is the case of the food industries (sugar factories : industries (SIAT), pharmaceutical industries and forestry industries. In these industries, alongside men, some women transform raw materials into directly consumable products.
Others create their own industrial society. However, their techniques and working methods still remain traditional. This is the case of Michelle Depaget Bantsimba 29 , 52, who transforms plants, fruits and vegetables into therapeutic products (natural insulin against diabetes ; fat burner against obesity, juice against sexual breakdown), foodstuffs (dark chocolate, cocoa butter. .), cosmetic products (beauty cream and lotion, antiperspirant, etc.). This is also the case of Sarah Mpaka 30 and Brigitte Gamba 31 who transform fruits (mangoes, pineapples, coffee, watermelons, sweet potatoes ...) into juice, syrups, jam, fries ...
If Congolese women are few in industry, they are, on the contrary, in crafts. They are present in all sectors (pottery, basketry, welding, sewing, etc.). In the informal sector, women manually make everyday objects or tools, possibly repairing them. This is the case of Florence Mbilampassi 32 who, in her association "Club des Femmes Artistes Pand Sculptresses", brings together and trains girls and boys in the fields of embroidery, painting and sculpture.

3.The woman in the trade
As an outfitter, the Congolese woman collects, harvests and produces the foodstuffs (caterpillar, mushroom, fruit, vegetables, cassava, poultry, etc.) sold on the market. She also supplies the national market with necessary cultural and industrial products and objects. This is the case of raffia fabrics and objects made by teke women, necklaces, local household products (broom, liana furniture, etc.). This fact has also been reported by OIM in these terms: The Congolese women is (…) the main provider of the subsistence of many families although she it evolves in the informal sector. 33 However, this production remains low and therefore does not meet demand.
As a trader, the Congolese woman «embraces everything 34 , that is to say, she sells everything. In fact, throughout the national territory, it ensures the sale of foodstuffs, clothing, cosmetic products, electronics, and many other materials. She travels to the various localities of the country and sometimes beyond national borders to obtain goods consumed by households in the country. This is the case of the famous Mama Lome in the years 1990-2000 who made trips to the Togolese capital to stock up on loincloths. Today, many Congolese women commute between Congo and Saudi Arabia (mainly in Dubai) or China for trade.
In addition to selling or marketing, the Congolese woman is the main element of attracting customers. Thus, for the high visibility and liquidity of their goods and services, most businesses, companies and commercial companies prefer to employ girls and women as marketing and advertising agents It should be noted that by practicing trade, whether in the streets and avenues, in shops or stores and in public markets, women invest contributes to the public treasury of the country, by paying taxes. Also this activity allows the Congolese woman to provide for the daily needs of her family (children and parents, spouses) such as food, clothing, schooling, medical care, etc. 36 As the main consumer, the Congolese women is the main customer of the Congolese market. Indeed, we observe more women than men shopping in the various stores, boutiques, kiosks and markets of the country the abundance of articles for women, in search of beautifying themselves. 37

4.Women in transport and telecommunications
Alongside men, Congolese women contribute to the smooth flow of people, goods, services and especially information. They are therefore active in the transport and telecommunications sectors.
In the area of transport, the Congolese woman plays the roles of driver, controller or charger, stewardess. In road transport, in the big cities (Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire in particular), some women are active in public transport and especially personal. Others work in certain garages in the square. They therefore participate in the repair of vehicles which ensure the movement of people.
According to Evra Bosckomy : The STPU, on the technical level, had two hundred (200) drivers including four (04) women who drove the bus more correctly than men; there were also two (02) mechanical trainees. Because of the crisis in the business and the bus breakdowns, these female drivers are on standby. However, there are more women in administrative and rolling staff. These occupy the functions of financial and accounting director, secretaries, and cashiers. However, the company wants to have more female drivers because they drive carefully and know how to avoid accidents than men. Unfortunately, there are fewer women volunteers who have a driver's license. In air transport, several women welcome passengers and receive luggage. They promote and advertise airlines.
Speaking of telecommunications, it should be noted that the story of Congolese women in the media begins with Jeanne Félicité Safou -Safouesse . The Republic of Congo today has about fifty (50) radio broadcasts, twenty televisions, more than fifty newspapers. It is connected to more than a dozen telephone and internet networks. In this sector, the place and the role of Congolese women are significant. The latter are present in the media (radio and television), the press (newspapers and periodicals), telephony and telegraphy), NICT (information technology, internet). In these different branches of telecommunications, the Congolese women seeks and extracts information everywhere, «even where man cannot arrive 39 by doing interviews, films and other surveys. She ensures the analysis and processing of the collected information, also it's drafting and its dissemination (emission and publication). Therefore, we distinguish Congolese animators, Journalists, editors, writers, image and sound recorders, technicians, directors, filmmakers... inspire women who aspire to positions of responsibility; contribute to the improvement of manners through special programs, sketches and plays; facilitate the transmission and circulation of information to various horizons, in short the emancipation of women; promote the national languages (Lingala, Kituba ) of the country, as well as its habits and customs through the media ; provoke and support the change of mentality of the Congolese populations in terms of environmental management; improve the health conditions of the population both in traditional and modern medicine; 40 publicize and propagandize the various work and production of Congolese women.
In addition, according to our survey carried out in Brazzaville, cyber-cafes and computerized secretariats are run by women and girls who also provide office automation (data entry and printing). The management secretariats of the various famous telephone networks bring together more girls and women than boys, because they attract and receive customers better.

V.Conclusion
In short, women in Congo land participate in the socio-economic development of their country. On the social level, they fight for the social well-being of individuals; they participate in the evolution and management of the State. Economically, they provide resources, goods and services in Congo. They become employed and create jobs in order to reduce unemployment around them on the one hand and on the whole national territory on the other hand. Finally, their contribution is more qualitative than quantitative, because a great number of factors slow down and sometimes slow down the action of the Congolese women in the process of development of the country.