The International Monetary Fund (IMF) held a three-day training session for economic journalists in Kinshasa from March 17 to 19, 2026, in collaboration with Ecofin Agency and Bankable. The initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen the capacity of media professionals covering economic and financial issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Fifteen journalists from various media outlets in the capital participated in the program. Over three days, the training introduced participants to key macroeconomic concepts at the national, regional and international levels, with the aim of improving their ability to analyze, interpret and contextualize economic and financial information.

The curriculum covered macroeconomic fundamentals, the functioning of fiscal and monetary policy, the role of the IMF, and the use of artificial intelligence in processing economic data. Particular emphasis was placed on making these concepts easier for a wider audience to understand.

Speaking at the opening session, IMF resident representative in the DRC René Tapsoba highlighted the role of journalists in disseminating clear and reliable economic information. In a context marked by economic reforms and structural challenges, he said high-quality news coverage is critical to strengthening transparency and accountability.

“In the era of digitalization and social media, where information spreads rapidly and is not always well analyzed, it is essential to have journalists who rely on credible sources, understand the underlying issues and explain them clearly,” he said.

Idriss Linge, director of Ecofin Academy and lead trainer, stressed the importance of equipping journalists with strong analytical skills to better interpret macroeconomic developments and their impact on the population.

“The objective is to train journalists in the Democratic Republic of Congo who can analyze economic developments rigorously using established tools, for investors, development partners, as well as Congolese households and businesses,” he said at the close of the session, which he co-led with Aboudi Ottou, Ecofin Agency’s bureau chief in the DRC and editor-in-chief of Bankable.

At the end of the training, participants said they were satisfied with both the quality of the sessions and their relevance to daily reporting. They particularly valued the interactive discussions and case studies based on the national economic context.

Jerome Sekana, a journalist with Agence Galaxie Médias, said he was “pleasantly surprised” by the relevance of the content.

“The trainers are highly experienced and the examples reflect the country’s economic realities. I hope this type of initiative continues to help build a strong pool of analysts capable of interpreting economic news,” he said.

Myriam Iragi, a journalist with Top Congo FM, also welcomed the training, highlighting the practical knowledge she gained.

“I learned a great deal about concepts I had sometimes used without fully understanding them. This training gives me a solid foundation to improve my analysis and provide more in-depth coverage,” she said.

Ronsard Luabeya