The Legacy of the Catholic Missionary Sisters: Effects on Women's Human Capital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Pablo Álvarez-Aragón (), Jean-Marie Baland (), Catherine Guirkinger () and Paola Villar ()
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Pablo Álvarez-Aragón: Development Finance and Public Policies, University of Namur
Jean-Marie Baland: Development Finance and Public Policies, University of Namur
Catherine Guirkinger: Development Finance and Public Policies, University of Namur
Paola Villar: Centre d'Économie de la Sorbonne, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne

No 2601, DeFiPP Working Papers from University of Namur, Development Finance and Public Policies

Abstract: This paper examines the long-term impact of Catholic missionary nuns on women’s human capital in the Democratic Republic of Congo. By using newly digitized historical data on Christian missions, recent demographic surveys, and administrative data on schools and healthcare facilities, we analyze the lasting effects of the missionaries' presence, focusing on gender-specific outcomes. While both Catholic and Protestant missions influenced educational attainment, the presence of Catholic nuns significantly enhanced these effects, especially for girls. Proximity to Catholic missions is also associated with better health outcomes. Beyond education and health, exposure to missions with nuns delays marriage, reduces polygamy, and increases women’s decision-making power within households. However, the negative effects on female labor force participation likely reflect the enduring influence of the “Christian household” model promoted during the colonial period. Overall, Catholic missionary nuns played a decisive role in shaping women’s outcomes, with effects that remain visible more than a century later.

Pages: 20 pages
Date: 2026-02
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nam:defipp:2601

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