DRC to reform microfinance sector

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is working on a reform to improve the governance and transparency of its microfinance sector. The reform aims to strengthen oversight and ensure better management practices within microfinance institutions.

Consultation on draft bill

A consultation workshop on the draft bill took place on October 12, 2026. It brought together the Central Bank of the Congo (BCC), microfinance institutions, savings and credit cooperatives, and their partners to discuss the proposed changes.

Nationality requirements for leadership

The draft bill requires that the board of directors of microfinance companies and microcredit enterprises be predominantly composed of Congolese citizens. The general management must be exclusively Congolese, and the same applies to the deliberative and executive bodies of savings and credit cooperatives.

Flexibility for the central bank

The BCC may exempt certain institutions from these nationality requirements under specific conditions. However, these exemptions would apply only to the composition of governance bodies, not to the nationality of shareholders or the capital structure of foreign-owned institutions.

Stricter criteria for leadership

The reform introduces stricter criteria for leadership roles. Applicants must provide proof of honorability, competence, and professional experience when applying for positions with the BCC. This ensures that only qualified individuals can lead these institutions.

Diverse skills for board members

The draft bill emphasizes the need for board members to have diverse and complementary skills. These include expertise in banking, financial analysis, accounting, information technology, strategic planning, compliance, risk management, and corporate governance.

New committees and incompatibilities

The reform introduces specialized committees such as audit, risk, and ethics and compliance. It also establishes new incompatibilities, such as a six-month cooling-off period before former board members can join another institution and a ban on politically exposed persons holding such roles.

Consolidating legal framework

The reform seeks to consolidate the legal framework for microfinance by combining the 2002 law on savings and credit cooperatives with the 2011 law on microfinance. This aims to create a unified set of rules for the sector.

Impact on foreign-owned institutions

Several large microfinance institutions in the DRC, such as Advans Congo, FINCA RDC, and Baobab RDC, currently have foreign nationals in leadership roles. The reform may require them to adjust their governance structures, depending on the final wording of the law and any exemptions granted by the BCC.