About the Migration Governance Indicators
About the Migration Governance Indicators
Migrants' rights
Migrants' rights

Indicators in this domain assess the extent to which migrants have the same status as citizens in terms of access to basic social services such as health, education, and social security. It also describes the rights of migrants to family reunification, to work, and to residency and citizenship. The ratification of the main international conventions is also included within this domain.

Indicators in this category look at the extent to which migrants have access to certain social services such as health, education and social security. They also examine measures to ensure integration and access to work.

Whole of government approach
Whole of government approach

Indicators in this domain assess countries’ institutional, legal, and regulatory frameworks related to migration policies. Domain 2 also reviews the existence of national migration strategies that are in-line with development, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in relation to migration management. This domain also investigates the extent to which governments collect and use migration data.

Indicators in this category assess the institutional frameworks of cities for migration. This area also examines the existence of migration strategies consistent with development objectives, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in migration management.

Partnerships
Partnerships

This domain focuses on countries’ efforts to cooperate on migration-related issues with other states and with relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector. Cooperation can lead to improvements in governance by aligning and raising standards, increasing dialogue and providing structures to overcome challenges.

Indicators in this category focus on cities’ efforts to cooperate on migration issues with the national government as well as other cities and relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector.

Well-being of migrants
Well-being of migrants

This domain includes indicators on countries’ policies for managing the socioeconomic well-being of migrants, through aspects such as the recognition of migrants’ educational and professional qualifications, provisions regulating student migration and the existence of bilateral labour agreements between countries. Indicators equally focus on policies and strategies related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances.

Indicators in this category assess cities’ initiatives in terms of international student mobility, access to the labour market and decent working conditions for migrant workers. Aspects related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances are also included in this domain.

Mobility dimensions of crises
Mobility dimensions of crises

This domain studies the type and level of preparedness of countries when they are faced with mobility dimensions of crises, linked to either disasters, the environment and/or conflict. The questions are used to identify the processes in place for nationals and non-nationals both during and after disasters, including whether humanitarian assistance is equally available to migrants as it is to citizens.

Indicators in this category examine the type and level of readiness of cities to deal with aspects of mobility crises. The questions focus on the processes in place for citizens and non-citizens both during and after disasters, especially if humanitarian assistance is available for migrants and citizens.

Safe, orderly and regular migration
Safe, orderly and regular migration

This domain analyses countries’ approach to migration management in terms of border control and enforcement policies, admission criteria for migrants, preparedness and resilience in the case of significant and unexpected migration flows, as well as the fight against trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants. It also assesses efforts and incentives to help integrate returning citizens.

Indicators in this category look at the cities’ approaches to migrant safety as well as return and reintegration policies and the fight against trafficking in persons.

Key findings
INTRODUCTION

This country Profile describes examples of well-developed areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s migration governance structures and areas with potential for further development, as evaluated through the six domains of the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI). These address migrants’ rights, a “whole-of-government” approach, partnerships, socioeconomic well-being of migrants, the mobility dimensions of crises, and safe and orderly migration.

Click the icons on the wheel to explore the key findings.

The Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) initiative is a policy-benchmarking programme led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and implemented with research and analysis from the Economist Intelligence Unit. Funding is provided by IOM Member States. 

Key findings
MIGRANTS’ RIGHTS

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • All migrants have access to all Government-funded health services, regardless of their migratory status.
  • Migrants, regardless of their status, have equal access as Congolese citizens to both primary education and secondary and vocational education. 
  • Family reunification is possible for all migrants.
  • All migrants holding a work permit have access to social security, notably to antenatal allowances, maternity allowances, family allowances and pensions.

 Areas with potential for further development 

  • Only refugees have the right to access employment on equal terms with Congolese nationals. 
  • Certain professions are reserved for Congolese nationals, and there are quotas limiting the number of foreign employees in a company.
  • There is no specific strategy for addressing hate crimes, violence, xenophobia or discrimination against migrants.
Key findings
WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT APPROACH

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • The country has legislation governing immigration.
  • The Directorate for Congolese Abroad (Direction des Congolais de l’Étranger) within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, is responsible for identifying and keeping a record of Congolese nationals abroad, mobilizing them for the development of the country, and defending their rights and interests. 
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo regularly publishes data on migration.

Areas with potential for further development 

  • There is no interministerial coordination mechanisms for migration issues at the national level, but the various structures and entities regularly collaborate on such issues.
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo has no national strategies on migration set out in a programme document or manifesto. 
  • The rules and regulations governing migration in the country are not easily accessible online.
Key findings
PARTNERSHIPS

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo participates in two official regional consultative processes and two interregional consultative forums, such as the Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa and the Migration Dialogue from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Member States. 
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo signed agreements on the joint management of migration with Canada in 2022 and Switzerland in 2013, among others.  
  • Non-profit associations and civil society are consulted on certain aspects of work relating to Congolese diaspora matters or mobilization.

Areas with potential for further development 

  • The government collaborates on an ad hoc basis with the private sector and social partners in setting the migration agenda and addressing the associated issues.
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo involves members of the diaspora and expatriate communities in setting the development agenda and implementing its associated policy only on an ad hoc basis.
  • The country has not yet implemented the Southern African Development Community’s measures to promote the mobility of the workforce among its member States. 
Key findings
WELL-BEING OF MIGRANTS 

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • There are different types of visas to attract specific skills.
  • The country considers the skills and capacities of migrant workers in its admission decisions.
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo participates is a member of the African and Malagasy Council for Higher Education (Conseil Africain et Malgache pour l’Enseignement Supérieur, CAMES), which has a programme for the recognition and equivalence of qualifications.  
  • There are mechanisms to protect the rights of Congolese working abroad through its Directorate for Congolese Abroad. 

Areas with potential for further development 

  • The country does not conduct national assessments to monitor the labour market demand for migrants, the national labour supply or the impact of emigration on the domestic labour market.
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo does not collect data on the labour market disaggregated by migratory status or gender. 
  • There are no specific measures to promote the ethical recruitment of migrant workers, nor are there measures to promote gender equality in the general labour market. 
Key findings
MOBILITY DIMENSION OF CRISES

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • The operational warning system of the 2021 Disaster Response Organizational Plan (Plan d’organisation de secours en cas de catastrophe, ORSEC Plan) contains several provisions for managing the movement of populations during a disaster. 
  • The country has introduced strategies to address migration caused by environmental degradation and the harmful effects of climate change.
  • Communication systems for receiving information about the development of disasters and access to aid, and to allow the public to communicate their needs to the authorities, take into account the specific vulnerabilities to which migrants are exposed. 

Areas with potential for further development 

  • The ORSEC Plan lacks specific measures related to assisting migrants during crisis and post-crisis periods in the country, nor does it take migration issues into account in post-crisis recovery strategies.
  • The ORSEC Plan An states that an ad hoc cell-type structure to support disaster victims may be set up to connect affected populations to the services or representatives of relevant entities but does not mention migrants. 
  • Certain measures are in place to exempt only refugees from immigration procedures.
Key findings
SAFE, ORDERLY AND REGULAR MIGRATION

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • The Permanent Border Commission (Commission Permanente des Frontières) prepares a quarterly report for the Government on the condition of the borders, informs political and administrative leaders about incomplete boundaries and other irregular routes likely to cause border problems, maintains borders that are already demarcated, and acts as a database for sound border management.
  • The country has measures to combat the exploitation of workers, which also apply to migrant workers.
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo has introduced policies and procedures to identify migrants in situations of vulnerability in a timely way and provide them with suitable orientation and protection services.

Areas with potential for further development 

  • The country has ad hoc training programmes for border personnel.
  • Draft legislation on antitrafficking measures has been introduced to Parliament, but it had not yet been voted on as of February 2023.
  • There are no specific government programmes or policies aimed at attracting nationals who have migrated from the country or facilitating their return.

2023 February

Migration Governance Profile: Democratic Republic of Congo