Kinshasa Baseline Report
Kinshasa, where GUG! and GEAS take place, is the second largest city in sub-Saharan Africa with close to 10 million inhabitants, making up almost 15% of the entire country. More than 50% of the population is under 20 years old. The total population has rapidly expanded in recent years with migration from conflict-affected areas in central and eastern DRC. The city is a complex, challenging and at times violent place to live, with high rates of poverty and unemployment, inequality, and low quality education and health services. However, greater access to and use of services is also apparent: The total fertility rate in Kinshasa is lower than other parts of the country at 4.4 children, and the modern contraceptive prevalence rate is also higher than other provinces at 19% (DHS 2013-2104).
While it is true that many risks to adolescent reproductive health exist, it is equally true that pro-youth policies and national structures also provide direction, with significant opportunities for substantial improvements in health and well-being, especially if efforts are made to strengthen the foundations of sustainable development, including youth capacity and gender equality.