Life stages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, abbreviated as the DRC, has no single government system covering all life stages. Relevant areas include civil registration, schools and vocational education, child protection, the labour market, social security and humanitarian assistance. Formal, non-formal and informal solutions exist alongside one another and reach people very differently depending on the province, place of residence, security situation and financial means. Children and young people make up a large share of the population; at the same time, more than two million people aged 65 or older were living in the country in 2023. Education, protection, work and support during displacement are therefore especially important concerns. A birth should be registered with the civil registrar within 90 days. Possible informants include the father, mother, relatives in the ascending line, other relatives, birth witnesses or an authorised person. Registration and issuance of the birth certificate are generally free of charge. However, late registration may result in a penalty, an additional court procedure and extra costs. The birth certificate facilitates proof of identity, passport applications, inheritance arrangements and, in some cases, access to school and healthcare. In rural, poor and conflict-affected areas, civil registration services remain difficult to reach. The law treats people under 18 as children. Criminal responsibility generally begins at age 14. Child protection covers protection from violence, exploitation, recruitment by armed groups, child labour, sexual violence and child marriage. The Social Affairs Division (Division des Affaires Sociales (DIVAS)), civil registry offices, child protection police units, children's courts, mediation committees and partner organisations may be responsible or involved. Depending on the situation, pathways may lead through family and community, school, child protection services, courts or mediation, foster families, and family reunification. For adolescents, options include secondary schools, accelerated or catch-up education, radio learning during crises, vocational training, apprenticeships and income-generation programmes. The Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training, the National Employment Office (Office National de l'Emploi (ONEM)), the National Institute for Vocational Preparation (Institut National de Préparation Professionnelle (INPP)), DIVAS and aid organisations may be involved. Access, duration and costs depend on the province, project, educational level and financial situation; indirect household and travel costs may also limit access. The transition from school to informal work, early parenthood, displacement or gender-based violence carries particular risks. Adulthood begins at 18. Entry into work is generally possible from age 15; vocational training below that age is permitted only under strict conditions involving labour inspection and the parents or a competent guardianship authority. The large informal and rural economic sector limits practical access to formal employment contracts, labour protection and social security. Typical transitions lead from school or vocational education into informal or formal work and later to establishing a household or parenthood. Marriage law sets a minimum age of 18 for both sexes and requires personal consent; child marriages and child betrothals are prohibited. A marriage must be registered, generally within three months and subject to a fee. Older people may receive a contributory old-age pension from the National Social Security Fund (Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale (CNSS)). Formal eligibility generally requires age 60 and at least 180 insurance months, that is, 15 years of insurance contributions. The pension is not universal and mainly reaches insured employees. Older people without formal employment, especially in rural areas, therefore often rely on family, community or humanitarian assistance. There is no documented nationwide uniform entitlement for care needs and no standardised general assessment. Care is usually provided by relatives and communities; social workers, para-social workers, foster families and aid organisations may provide additional support. Medical treatment belongs to the health sector and not to this life-course topic. In the eastern parts of the country, especially North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri and Tanganyika, displacement and violence interrupt schooling, family life and paid work. Common risks include separation from relatives, abduction, recruitment, sexual violence, psychological distress and child labour. The Division des Affaires Sociales, provincial authorities, the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization Programme (Programme de Désarmement, Démobilisation, Relèvement Communautaire et Stabilisation (PDDR-CS)), UNICEF, other United Nations organisations and local protection networks may provide temporary learning spaces, radio lessons, child-friendly spaces, psychosocial support, documentation, family tracing, family reunification, foster care and reintegration, depending on the location. Searching for relatives may take days to months; lasting reintegration often takes longer. Security, displacement, missing documents and the specific place of residence determine which pathway is actually accessible.