Dear colleagues and partners,
March 8 is an important day for PHC. It is an opportunity not only to celebrate women and their achievements, but also to reflect on the values that guide our choices and commitments.
This year, International Women’s Day carries the global theme: “Rights. Equality. Empowerment. For all women and girls.” and the national theme in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: “Guaranteed rights: sustainable empowerment for all women and girls.”
These words may appear simple, yet they set a demanding standard.
At PHC, we firmly believe that women’s rights must go beyond declarations. They represent a responsibility and require consistent, everyday action.
This conviction has guided the development of our company, particularly in advancing women’s empowerment. Our commitment is internationally recognized through the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and is reflected in several concrete actions:
- A significant increase in female representation within our workforce, rising from 4% in 2021 to 17% in 2025
- The implementation of clear internal prevention and response policies based on zero tolerance for gender-based violence within PHC
- The promotion of female leadership, providing women and girls with greater access to middle management and decision-making positions including roles historically dominated by men in the palm oil industry
All of this is grounded in a strong commitment to meritocracy.
Our commitment to the empowerment of Congolese women and girls also extends beyond the company:
- PHC provides concrete support to women and girls in the rural communities where we operate, through training and technical assistance for agricultural production. This support enables them to develop income-generating activities, strengthen the resilience of their households, and contribute fully to the economic and social development of their communities.
- PHC also invests in education and skills development for young people, notably through the construction of schools and digital literacy centers accessible to both boys and girls. These facilities offer young girls an inclusive learning environment and essential digital skills, helping to reduce inequalities and prepare a new generation ready to contribute to the country’s development.
- PHC has established family planning services in our rural hospitals, where access to such services is often limited. These services enable women and couples who wish to do so to better space births and reduce the health risks associated with closely spaced pregnancies, which remain one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in Central Africa.
However, as we all know, despite the existence of numerous laws and frameworks promoting women’s rights, their effective implementation in everyday life remains insufficient.
Advancing rights, ensuring justice, and translating commitments into action require objectivity, consistency, courage, and strong collective engagement.
On this March 8, 2026, I would like to pay tribute to the women and girls of PHC, as well as those in the communities where we operate. Your dedication, resilience, and contribution are at the heart of our shared success.
I would also like to recognize the men of PHC and the communities. It is together women and men that we will continue building a more inclusive, fairer company that creates shared prosperity.
PHC will remain fully committed, today and tomorrow, to ensuring that the rights of women and girls are not only recognized, but truly lived.
I wish you all a wonderful International Women’s Day.
