Policy Interventions and Longitudinal Trends in Women's Political Participation in Eastern DRC: A Comparative Analysis

Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has seen limited progress in women's political participation despite several policy interventions aimed at increasing it. The study employs a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative data from official election results with qualitative insights from interviews and surveys conducted among political stakeholders and community leaders across the region. A consistent trend observed is that women's representation in local governance bodies has increased by 15% over the last decade, though regional variations persist with urban areas showing higher participation rates than rural regions. While there have been modest improvements, significant disparities remain indicating a need for targeted interventions to address geographic and socio-economic inequalities. Policy makers should prioritise support programmes in underserved rural areas and focus on enhancing women's leadership skills through training initiatives.