Evaluating the impact of a non-profit's intervention on child labour and school attendance in artisanal and small-scale mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Child labour and low school attendance remain pressing challenges in low-income economies, particularly in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) communities where poverty and structural vulnerabilities constrain children’s access to education. While household support programs and income transfer initiatives have traditionally aimed to alleviate poverty, their potential to influence child labour and educational outcomes is increasingly recognized. This study provides the first empirical evidence from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on the causal impact of financial and non-financial assistance on children’s labour and schooling decisions. We evaluate the Kamituga project implemented by the Panzi Foundation (PIAH) using propensity score matching to address selection bias and ensure comparability between treatment and control households. Our results indicate that participation in PIAH significantly reduces child labour and increases school attendance, with evidence suggesting that its holistic approach—combining cash transfers, educational support, and community engagement—underpins its effectiveness. The study further highlights gendered dynamics and contextual factors that shape program outcomes, providing nuanced insights into why boys and girls may benefit differently from similar interventions. These findings carry important policy implications. They demonstrate that integrated, multi-dimensional support programs can effectively mitigate child labour while enhancing educational access in marginalized communities. Policymakers are encouraged to replicate or scale up interventions like PIAH in ASM and other vulnerable settings across sub-Saharan Africa, combining financial aid with educational initiatives to address both economic and structural barriers. By linking rigorous empirical evidence with actionable policy recommendations, this study contributes to global debates on child labour reduction, social protection, and human capital development.