This article examines the growing engagement of women in informal economic activities in the city of Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and highlights their contribution to local socio-economic development. Faced with unemployment, persistent poverty, and limited opportunities in the formal sector, many women turn to the informal economy as a survival strategy and a pathway to economic empowerment. The study aims to understand the motivations behind this trend, identify the main types of activities carried out, and analyze the challenges encountered by these women. The research adopts an inductive approach based on semi-structured interviews, direct field observation, and data analysis. The findings indicate that women’s involvement in the informal sector is driven by limited access to professional training, financial constraints, lack of banking guarantees, administrative and fiscal barriers, and the low recognition of women’s socio-economic status. Despite these constraints, informal activities represent a crucial source of household income and significantly contribute to local economic dynamism. The study therefore recommends the implementation of supportive public policies, including improved access to microcredit, targeted vocational training programs, and stronger institutional support to enhance women’s empowerment and entrepreneurial development.