Kinshasa, February 17th, 2026 (CPA).-More than 700 businesses have been supported in Nord-Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, by Virunga National Park through its entrepreneurship programme, according to a document from this protected area consulted on Tuesday by CPA.
‘For nearly eight years, Virunga National Park’s entrepreneurship programme has supported more than 700 businesses in Nord-Kivu through tailor-made loan financing,’ it is read on the Virunga National Park’s X account. The Park has indicated that, in synergy with other Virunga Alliance initiatives, this programme has contributed to the creation of nearly 20,000 jobs in a province where professional opportunities, particularly for young people, remain limited. ‘Basing on this dynamic, Nord-Kivu is regularly progressing towards a more sustainable development model, with the programme’s results being reinforced by the support of the European Union,’ it is added. Created in 1925, Virunga National Park is one of the oldest national parks in Africa. Located in eastern DRC, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, in addition to its conservation missions, develops socio-economic programmes for local communities. CPA/