When taking up my duties as World Bank Country Director in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) a few months ago, data on the prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) were among those that struck me the most. DRC ranks 151st out of 179 in the 2021 Gender Inequality Index (GII), a composite metric of gender inequality using reproductive health, empowerment, and the labour market as main dimensions, with only 14.3% of women occupying parliamentary seats. One in two women report having experienced physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime (2014 DHS), while 3 in 4 women and ne...