Diaspora and innovation

Mboka Numérique

Status: In design
Connecting diaspora skills with young people and institutions in the DRCMboka Numérique is the working name of an initiative that RINET Center is designing with the diaspora. It starts from a simple observation: the DRC is digitizing its services and needs jobs for its young people, while its diaspora has skills that no framework mobilizes yet.

At a glance

Led by
RINET Center
Status
In design · working paper of October 30, 2026
Focus
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Funding
None to date

Why now

Why this name

“Mboka” means home, one’s country, in Lingala: the word speaks as much to a young person in Kinshasa as to a Congolese woman in Montreal. The final name will be chosen after consultation, with versions in the national languages.

  • The DRC ranks 179th of 193 countries on the UN E-Government Development Index (2024).

  • A US$400 million IDA project, with a €100 million loan from AFD, funds its digital transformation until 2029.

  • Personal remittances received reached about US$3.32 billion in 2025. That is families’ money, not programme funding, but it shows how strong the ties are.

Detailed sources are in the discussion paper. Read the paper

Who the initiative is for

  1. Young people

    Who want to earn an income through digital work, at home.

  2. Diaspora professionals

    Who want to contribute, remotely or on the ground.

  3. Artisans and small businesses

    Who want to sell beyond their local market.

  4. Institutions and partners

    Who need expertise and measured results.

Five proposed strands

Each strand could start on its own. At this stage, all of them are proposals.

  • Talent

    Remote contributions, short missions and stays of 12 to 24 months.

    Status: In design

  • Youth

    Training in trades that pay online, with mentors from the diaspora.

    Status: In design

  • Export

    Helping artisans and small businesses sell online by removing payment and logistics barriers.

    Status: In design

  • Invest

    Information and project preparation, without asking for money until trust is established.

    Status: In design

  • Status

    Working with lawyers on options for Congolese people who have taken another nationality.

    Status: In design

What Mboka Numérique is not

  • It is not a government programme: RINET Center holds no mandate from any Congolese or Canadian institution.
  • It is not an investment fund: no financial product is offered and no money is being raised.
  • It is not an open platform: no online service exists yet.

Planned next steps

  1. Consult members of the diaspora, starting in Ottawa-Gatineau.

  2. Choose the final name and its versions.

  3. Identify institutional and funding partners.

  4. Design a small first pilot, focused on remote mentoring.

Each step completed will be dated on this page.

How to take part

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