In Kivu, family SMEs sustain the local economy but remain highly vulnerable. The project connects applied research, doctoral training and university–business partnerships to strengthen their resilience.
The project aims to strengthen the resilience of family small and medium-sized enterprises (FSMEs) in Kivu by combining applied research, doctoral training and knowledge transfer to stakeholders. It builds on the collaboration between the Catholic University of Bukavu (UCB) and Belgian higher education institutions and universities (ICHEC, UCLouvain, UMons), consolidated through a participatory project formulation mission conducted in December 2025. Three doctoral theses, grounded in fieldwork, will generate contextualised knowledge on family dynamics and succession, the cultural and religious dimensions of entrepreneurship, and women’s entrepreneurship. These results will be translated into training activities, tools and recommendations for entrepreneurs and support institutions. An expertise centre anchored at UCB will ensure the sustainability of the project’s outcomes.
Context
The Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kivu in particular, is characterised by persistent political and security instability, high levels of poverty and fragile public services. In this context, family SMEs are a key pillar of employment and income generation, yet they remain exposed to significant risks: poorly prepared succession, limited access to formal finance, specific barriers faced by women, weakly formalised management practices and limited consideration of sustainability. Business support institutions (FEC, ANADEC, incubators) express a strong demand for support and expertise from UCB. The project formulation mission (December 2025) confirmed the need to better articulate research, action and advocacy with local stakeholders.
Needs addressed
The project responds to three interrelated needs: (1) strengthening research and doctoral training in entrepreneurship and family business, a priority field that remains poorly documented in the DRC; (2) reducing the gap between universities, entrepreneurs and public authorities so that research addresses real challenges (succession, financing, inclusion); and (3) providing technical support to business support institutions (FEC, ANADEC, incubators, financial and microfinance institutions) to improve training, mentoring and advocacy. The project transforms local data into concrete actions.
Expected results
In the short term, the project will train three PhD candidates, strengthen UCB’s research capacities and generate original data on family SMEs in Kivu. This work will result in academic publications, policy briefs and practical dissemination tools. In the medium term, the findings will inform modular training programmes for nascent entrepreneurs, established entrepreneurs and senior entrepreneurs (succession), platforms for dialogue between universities, businesses and support institutions, and evidence-based advocacy initiatives. Overall, the project aims to foster more inclusive economic resilience.
Financing
ARES (PRD-PFS)
