Professional Documents
Culture Documents
DRC Nov 2008
DRC Nov 2008
A Guide to Humanitarian and Development Efforts
of InterAction Member Agencies in the DRC
Photo Courtesy of: International Medical Corps, taken by Alyssa Banta
November 2008
Produced by Ashley Brush
With the Humanitarian Policy and Practice Team, InterAction
And with the support of a cooperative agreement with USAID/OFDA
1400 16th Street., NW, Suite 210, Washington DC 20036
Phone (202) 667‐8227 Fax (202) 667‐8236
Web: www.interaction.org
Table of Contents:
Map of DR Congo ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 2
Report Summary …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….... 3
Current Humanitarian Situation …………………………………………………………………………………………………..…... 3
Historical Background ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…… 5
Organizations by Sector of Activity …………………………………………………………………………………………………... 8
List of Acronyms …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….…. 9
Member Activity Reports:
Action Against Hunger ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………… 10
Adventist Development and Relief Agency ……………………………………………………………………………………... 12
Africare ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13
Air Serv International ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 14
Baptist World Aid …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 15
Catholic Relief Services …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 16
Food for the Hungry ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 18
International Medical Corps ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….… 19
International Rescue Committee …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 22
Mercy Corps ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 24
Oxfam America ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….. 25
United Methodist Committee on Relief ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 26
Women for Women International …………………………………………………………………………………………………... 27
World Vision …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 28
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Democratic Republic of the Congo
Source: World Health Organization, 2008. Available at: http://www.who.int/hac/donorinfo/campaigns/cod/UN_DRC_Congo.jpg
2
Report Summary
This report includes feedback from 12 InterAction member organizations working in the DR
Congo. The sectors touched by their humanitarian programming are vast in scope and scale. They
include education/training, health care, HIV/AIDs, water and sanitation, gender issues, disaster and
emergency relief, agriculture, and refugee services.
Though the recent outbreak of violence may intensify and reshape the overall picture of
humanitarian need in the DR Congo, data provided by InterAction members suggest that certain trends
were already developing in funding and programming. The majority of programming efforts were
focused on disaster/emergency response, food security programs, health care, and water and
sanitation, sectors which tend to be relatively well resourced.
InterAction members indicate that beyond the programs that they are already implementing,
there is a lack of donor attention to programs focused on areas including gender based violence
programming, reforestation, infrastructure/capacity building, and livelihood rehabilitation. Because the
nature of these initiatives requires a long term and multi faceted approach, it can be challenging to
secure adequate funding to make major gains in these areas.
Current Humanitarian Situation
Since 1885, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has gone through six official name
changes, an indication of the country’s volatile political life. In a country where 80% of the population
lives below the poverty line, numerous regime changes have had devastating consequences for the
Congolese people. According to the United Nations Development Index, which measures standards of
living, education levels, and life expectancy, the DR Congo ranked 168 out of 177. Under the governance
of current president Joseph Kabila, little improvement has been made in reducing long standing human
rights abuses. Tens of thousands of street children continue to be at risk in Congo, regularly subjected to
physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, often at the hands of police and military forces. Because one in
five children dies before reaching the age of five, the mortality rate is 40 percent higher than the
average for Sub‐Saharan Africa. Conflict and humanitarian crises in the Democratic Republic of
Congo have taken the lives of an estimated 5.4 million people since 1998, and each day nearly
1,500 people die from treatable causes. The death toll from conflict and its aftermath in the past ten
years surpasses that of any other conflict since World War II. Resource exploitation and conflict continue
in areas north and west of Goma as well as northern and southern Kivu. According to the U.N. Children’s
Fund (UNICEF), recent conflict has displaced an estimated 250,000 people since August 2008, including
the approximately 100,000 people who have been displaced since October 26, when fighting intensified
in Rutshuru Territory.
The more than 20 different armed rebel groups in the DR Congo make it difficult for the UN
peacekeeping force, known by its French acronym, MONUC, to stabilize the region as well as for
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international NGOs to operate. Since the 2006 election, MONUC has struggled to protect civilians. In
September 2008, OCHA reported that MONUC peacekeepers and humanitarian organizations were
being targeted by several different armed groups. The Government of DRC and various rebel groups,
including the CNDP forces led by General Laurent Nkunda, signed a ceasefire agreement known as the
Goma Accords in January 2008. However, sporadic fighting continued, with increasing intensity
throughout the second half of 2008. Some humanitarian aid organizations have been forced to leave or
halt operations due to violence. The reduction in humanitarian space presents pressing problems such
as lack of water and sanitation and rapidly depleting food and medical supplies as the number of
internally displaced persons (IDPs) increases.
Another humanitarian concern is the widespread sexual and gender based violence occurring in
the DR Congo. Advocacy organizations have reported that such high levels of sexual and gender based
violence make the eastern Congo perhaps the worst place in the world to be a woman or girl. Rape and
sexual violence used as a tool of war to exert control over civilians occurs on a scale with no other
equivalent in the world. Women and girls often suffer severe injuries as a result of rape, including
internal bleeding, fistulas and incontinence, and women who are already pregnant may experience
medical complications during the pregnancy. Furthermore, the widespread rape of Congolese women
exposes them to sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. According to expert estimates, about
60 percent of regular troops and militia‐men in Congo are infected with HIV/AIDS. Despite increased
international attention given to this issue, impunity for perpetrators of rape and sexual violence
continues as little has been done to address the issue.
In the face of such devastation, there is some positive news coming from the DR Congo. The
democratic election held in 2006 was a major success and an historic event for the DR Congo. The
Humanitarian Coordinator for the DR Congo, Ross Mountain, hailed the elections as notable progress in
citizen participation in the political process and a commitment to further peace and democracy in the
country. The country’s elected government is now responsible for reconstruction of the country and
humanitarian issues. Local elections are tentatively scheduled to take place in the first half of 2009. UN
officials see local elections as the next step forward in terms of installing strong governance structures in
the DR Congo.
The humanitarian and development needs in the DRC have garnered more attention in recent
years and have elicited increased donor support, although the full needs of the DRC are still not being
met. The mid‐term review of the 2008 Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP) found an increase in
humanitarian needs, requiring revision of the initial estimate of $575 million to $749 million. This
increase reflects emerging nutrition crises in several provinces, challenges associated with the increase
of food and fuel prices, recent cholera outbreaks and other epidemics, and the ongoing and unresolved
problem of sexual violence. The 2008 HAP focuses on five key areas: mortality, nutrition, protection,
assistance to internally displaced people (IDPs) and support of returnees.
In early November 2008, a new wave of violence in the east tested the already fragile ceasefire.
Rebel fighters led by Laurent Nkunda clashed with the DRC national army (FARDC) near Goma, the
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capital of North Kivu province, in an attempt to force President Kabila to negotiate with Nkunda. Aid
workers returning to refugee camps as security improved found them virtually empty. While as many as
50,000 displaced people reached Goma, countless others tried to return to their homes on foot through
rebel‐held territory. The recent clashes between rebels and the FARDC has resulted in killing, looting and
rape carried out by rebels and Government soldiers, creating what many aid agencies have termed a
"humanitarian catastrophe." It remains to be seen how devastating the effect of this recent outbreak of
violence will be for the Congolese people.
Historical Background
The origins of the complex humanitarian crisis in the DR Congo include a colonial past,
widespread governmental corruption, exploitation of people and natural resources, and regional
instability. The DR Congo was ruled exclusively by King Leopold II of Belgium from 1885 to 1908, when it
made the transition from personal fiefdom to an official Belgian colony. It was not until 1960, that the
DR Congo gained independence following a series of riots and political unrest. Independence, however,
did not translate into peace. Within a year, the army mutinied, the provincial governor of Katanga tried
to secede, Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba died under suspicious circumstances, and the effective head
of the military, Joseph Mobutu, wrested control of the government from the parliamentary elected
president Joseph Kasayubu and then returned it.
In 1965, amid unrest and instability, Mobutu claimed the presidency for a term of five years. He
would remain in power until 1997. During his tenure as president, Mobutu promulgated a mission of
cultural awareness in which he required citizens to adopt African names. He renamed himself Mobutu
Sese Seko and the country Zaire in accordance with this policy. Aside from incursions from Angola
staged by former rebels from Katanga province between 1977 and 1978, the early years of his reign saw
relative peace and stability. During the 1980s, several different opposition groups challenged his strict
one party system. The harsh response of Mobutu’s government provoked significant criticism from the
international community. In the early 1990’s, domestic opposition to Mobutu’s government, poor
economic conditions, and increased international pressure led Mobutu to sign off on reforms which
would create a multiparty system. While the details of the reforms were being worked out, Kinshasa was
raided by soldiers angered over unpaid wages. French and Belgian troops were dispatched to quell the
situation and evacuate the nearly 20,000 foreign nationals living in the dangerous capital city.
In 1992, a conference to work out the new multi‐party system was finally held with more than
2,000 representatives from various political parties in attendance. The conference elected Archbishop
Laurent Monsengwo as its charmain and Etienne Tshisekedi as its prime minister. Before the year’s
close, Mobutu had formed a government to rival the conference’s government. To merge the two
governments together, the High Council of Republic‐Parliament of Transition (HCR‐PT) was formed in
1994 with Mobutu as head of state and Kengo Wa Dondo as prime minister. Elections were planned as
part of HCR‐PT, but never occurred.
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In 1996, internal turmoil was compounded by the war and after affects of the 1994 genocide in
neighboring Rwanda. Fleeing Rwandan Hutu militia had used Hutu refugee camps in eastern Zaire as
military bases. In 1996, Laurent Kabila formed an armed coalition army known as the Alliance des
Forces Democratiques pour la Liberation du Congo‐Zaire (AFDL) with the goal of ousting Mobutu and
fighting the Rwandan Hutus. The Burundian, Rwandan, and Ugandan governments were in alliance with
Kabila’s AFDL. In October 1996, Kabila led a force against the Hutus, starting the First Congo War, and
launching a full‐scale rebellion against Mobutu. When the AFDL stormed Kinshasa, Mobutu was forced
to flee the country. Kabila subsequently declared himself president in May of 1997, created the Public
Salvation Government, and renamed Zaire the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Just as Mobutu had
done before him, Kabila banned all opposition parties eroding relations with his foreign supporters.
Kabila pursued new alliances with the governments of Angola, Zimbabwe, and Namibia who supported
him in August 1998, when his troops staged a mutiny to replace his government with the Rwandan
backed rebel group called the Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie (RCD). The RCD retreated
to the east and established de facto control of certain areas while continuing to fight against Kabilia and
his allies. In 1999, a Ugandan backed rebel group called the Mouvement pour la Liberation du Congo
(MLC) was formed and promptly established control over the northern third of the DR Congo.
These new rebel groups effectively divided the DR Congo into three different parts, creating a
military stalemate. In July 1999, the Lusaka Accord was agreed upon by all parties calling for a cease‐fire,
the deployment of UN led peacekeeping operation known as MONUC, the exit of foreign troops, and the
creation of the “Inter‐Congolese Dialogue” to form a new transitional government. The terms of the
Lusaka Accord were not fully respected by its signatories in 1999 and 2000. Kabila began to attract
increasing international criticism for his role in the stalled peace process which included blockage of the
full deployment of UN troops, suppression of internal political dissent, and stalling progress on the Inter‐
Congolese Dialogue. On January 16, 2001 Laurent Kabila was assassinated. This paved the way for his
son Joseph to assume the presidency.
Upon taking office, Joseph Kabila reversed many of the anti‐democratic policies of his father’s
administration; MONUC was able to deploy throughout the country, the Inter‐Congolese dialogue
resumed, and most foreign forces were withdrawn. In July 2002, Rwanda and the DR Congo were able
to agree on the Pretoria Accord and Rwandan troops were withdrawn from the country. The Inter‐
Congolese Dialogue picked up again in October 2001. The Pratoria agreement was formally ratified by all
parties on April 2, 2003.
During his tenure as president, Joseph Kabila is credited with having made significant progress
increasing democratic institutions and reforming the economy with the help of the World Bank and
International Monetary Fund. On July 30, 2006, free elections were held for the first time in 40 years,
with many different parties represented. Joseph Kabila was popularly elected as president.
Despite this progress, serious human rights violations still persist and the judicial system
remains weak. The Nairobi and Ngurdoto Communiqué signed by Rwanda and the DR Congo aimed at
improving the situation in the east by ending the presence of former Rwandan soldiers. On January 23,
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2008, this initial agreement was reinforced by the signing of the Goma Accords by over 20 armed groups
and the Congolese government. The Goma Agreement called for an immediate cease fire, the
disengagement of troops, improved humanitarian conditions and the creation of a UN buffer zone.
These agreements have not ended the violence in the east and few individuals have been held
accountable for their past war crimes. In fact, many warlords and top militia leaders have been
appointed to high ranking positions in the Congolese army. According to Human Rights Watch, the
people of the Eastern Congo have actually suffered an increase in armed conflict, rape, murder, and the
recruitment of child soldiers. The rebel group known as the Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR)
dedicated to overthrowing the Rwandan government, has been responsible for many of these attacks
against Congolese citizens. The Congolese government has both supported and attacked the FDLR at
times. This contradictory policy is indicative of fighting in the region as a whole, as the conflict has seen
all forces fighting each other at various points in time.
The weakness and political malleability of the justice system continue to overshadow efforts to
bring peace to the DR Congo. Since late 2006 some 300 people linked to the opposition, among those
women and children, have been arbitrarily arrested and imprisoned in Kinshasa. Many of these
individuals have been tortured at Kin‐maziere police prison, at Tshatshi military camp, or elsewhere to
try to force them to confess to coup plotting or insurgency. In only a handful of instances they brought
before the courts.
In Kinshasa, violence has also occurred. In March 2008, a particularly violent clash occurred
between forces loyal to presidential candidate Jean‐Pierre Bemba. At least 300 people, mostly civilians,
were killed during the incident and there has been no official investigation into the proceedings
although many of Bemba’s security forces were found slain. His party’s headquarters was also raided
and his radio and television stations were forced to close for several months. In April, amid allegations of
treason purported by Kabila’s government, Bemba left the country.
In Western Congo, law enforcement officials were said to have used violent and repressive
means against those politically opposed to Kabila’s government, including politicians, journalists, and
natives from Bemba’s home region of Equateur. Other instances of political oppression occurred at the
end of January 2008, when police officials used force to silence demonstrations about potential election
fraud in Bas Congo. More than 100 people were killed, most of them members of the opposition
political party known as Bundu Dia Kongo (BDK). There has still been no investigation into the incident or
restitution for the killings.
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Organizations by Sector of Activity
Water and Sanitation: Agriculture & Rural Development:
United Methodist Committee on Relief United Methodist Committee on Relief
OxfamAmerica Baptist World Aid
Action Against Hunger Catholic Relief Services
Food for the Hungry International Medical Corps
MercyCorps International Rescue Committee
World Vision MercyCorps
Emergency Relief & Disaster Response: Education & Training:
Air Serv International Baptist World Aid
Baptist World Aid Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services International Medical Corps
International Medical Corps United Methodist Committee on Relief
International Rescue Committee World Vision
MercyCorps Women for Women International
World Vision
Gender Issues:
Health Care: Baptist World Aid
Action Against Hunger International Medical Corps
Baptist World Aid International Rescue Committee
Catholic Relief Services Women for Women International
Food for the Hungry World Vision
International Medical Corps
International Rescue Committee Food Security:
World Vision Action Against Hunger
Catholic Relief Services
HIV AIDS: Food for the Hungry
Catholic Relief Services International Medical Corps
International Medical Corps MercyCorps
World Vision United Methodist Committee on Relief
Business Development: Refugees & Migration:
Baptist World Aid International Medical Corps
United Methodist Committee on Relief Women for Women International
Women for Women International World Vision
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List of Acronyms
ACF Against Against Hunger
ADRA Adventist Development Relief Agency
AFDL Allied Democratic Forces for DRC Liberation, rebel group
BDK Bundu Dia Kongo, opposition political party
BDOM Office of Diocese Open Medicine, in Bukavu
BPRM Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
BWAid Baptist World Aid
CARE Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc
CNDP National Congress for the People's Defense, rebel force
CRS Catholic Relief Services
DANIDA Danish International Development Agency
DFID Department for International Development (UK)
DRC Democratic Republic of the Congo
ECHO Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization
FARDC DR Congo national army
FDLR Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
FH Food for the Hungry
GBV Gender Based Violence
IDP Internally Displaced Person
IMC International Medical Corps
IOM International Organization on Migration
IRC International Rescue Committee
MLC Liberation Movement of the Congo, rebel group
MOH Ministry of Health
MONUC Mission of the UN in the DRC, peacekeeping force
MSF Doctors Without Borders
OCHA UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
OFDA Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance
RCD Congolese Assembly for Democracy, rebel group
UMCOR United Methodist Committee on Relief
UN United Nations
UNCHR United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees
UNDP United Nations Development Program
UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund
USAID United States Agency for International Development
WV World Vision
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Action Against Hunger
1) US Contact Person:
3) Etienne Faubert, Head of Mission DRC East
Karine Milhorgne, Desk Officer‐DRC
Action Contre la Faim USA
247 W 37th Street, 10th floor
19 avenue de la Frontière
New York, NY, 10018
Goma
212.967.7800
243(0)81.447.30.19
kmilhorgne@actiongainsthunger.org
cdm.kivu@acf‐international.org
2) Overseas Field Offices Contact:
Cheick Ba, Head of Mission DRC West
objective of ACF in the DR Congo is to reduce
Action Contre la Faim USA
morbidity and mortality linked with acute
11 Avenue Massamba ‐ Kitambo
malnutrition, through programs of prevention,
Q/ Basoko / Ngaliema
detection, and treatment of acute malnutrition.
Kinshasa
The approaches of ACF aim at tackling the
243(0)81.880.73.20
underlying causes of malnutrition with water
cdm.kin@acfusa‐rdc.org
and sanitation and food security interventions.
Introduction:
In the implementation of its programs,
ACF favors community participation, works with
Founded in 1979, the mission of ACF
local technical departments and proposes a
USA is to save lives by eliminating hunger
variety of adapted trainings. The support that
through the prevention, detection, and
ACF provides to the National Nutrition Program
treatment of malnutrition, especially during and
of the Ministry of Health promotes the
after emergency situations of conflict, war and
strengthening of national nutrition protocols
natural disaster. From crisis to sustainability,
and the nutritional surveillance of the country
ACF tackles the underlying causes of
as a whole. At local level, ACF’s nutrition
malnutrition and its effects by using our
programs are implemented with the Health
expertise in nutrition, food security, water and
Zones and include trainings of the health staff.
sanitation, health and advocacy. By integrating
our programs with local and national systems
ACF’s programming in the DR Congo
ACF further ensures that short‐term
encompasses many different provinces. In
interventions become long‐term solutions.
South Kivu, ACF works in food security,
water/sanitation, and nutrition. The food
ACF in the DR Congo:
security programming includes agricultural
development, fish farming, environmental
ACF has been present in the DRC since 1996,
preservation methods, and livelihood
and has been implementing nutrition, food
promotion in Uvira, Fizi, and Kalehe. The water
security and water and sanitation programs in
and sanitation programs are focused on the
conflict affected provinces. The general
areas of Fizi and Kalehe which are prone to
cholera. In North Kivu, ACF’s programming
10
focuses on food security and agricultural
development in the territory of Walikale. In the
Province Orientale, ACF also implements food
security, agricultural development, and
nutrition programming in the Territory of Bas
Uele. In Kasai Oriental, ACF executes a nutrition
program in the territory of Lomela. In
Bandundu, ACF has nutrition programs in Kwilu
and Kwango and food security programs in
Kahemba. Finally, in Katanga, ACF focus on
water and sanitation programs in cholera prone
areas with a rapid response team for
intervention during cholera outbreaks.
In order to carry out its programming
efforts in the DR Congo, ACF receives funding
from ECHO, OFDA, UNICEF, UNDP, French
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Charity Foundation,
and other private funding sources. The total
scale of programming for 2008 is 12,000,000
USD, serving 700,000 beneficiaries. In executing
its program objectives, ACF has a specific
relationship with the National Nutrition
Program (PRONANUT) of the Ministry of Health
and works with the Central Bureaus of the
Health Zones for nutrition activities in the
provinces.
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Adventist Development and Relief
Agency (ADRA)
US Contact Person: Overseas Field Offices Contact:
Julio Munoz Robert Britton
12501 Old Columbia Pike ADRA DRC ; Kinshasa
Silver Spring, MD 20904 Route de Matadi #10102
301.680.6370 Kinshasa/Ngaliema, RDC
julio.munoz@adra.org 243.81.066.3705
robertbrit@aol.com
Introduction: with communities in areas such as capacity
building, education, and environmental
The Adventist Development and Relief awareness, thereby helping communities to
Agency (ADRA) was established in November help themselves. ADRA’s programming falls
1956 by the Seventh‐day Adventist Church to under a variety of sectors including agriculture,
provide humanitarian relief and welfare. food security, health, water and sanitation,
Originally called Seventh‐day Adventist Welfare gender issues, disaster and emergency relief,
Service or SAWS, the name was changed to refugee issues, and rural development. ADRA
Seventh‐day Adventist World Service in 1973. carries out its programs primarily in Kinshasa,
ADRA was initiated by the Seventh‐day Goma, and Lumumbashi.
Adventist church. ADRA was established for the
purpose of following Christ’s example by being In Kinshasa, ADRA’s projects are
a voice for, serving, and partnering with those focused on improving livelihoods, preventative
in need. ADRA seeks to identify and address health care, increasing food security,
social injustice and deprivation in developing coordinating government activities in relief, and
countries. The agency’s work seeks to improve improving water and sanitation. In Goma,
the quality of life of those in need. ADRA invests ADRA’s programming is focused on helping IDPs
in the potential of these individuals through and refugees resettle, improving the economic
community development initiatives targeting status of communities, promoting peace
Food Security, Economic Development, Primary through gender sensitization, and improving
Health and Basic Education. ADRA’s emergency food security. In Lumumbashi, ADRA works to
management initiatives provide aid to disaster establish access to safe drinking water, promote
survivors. Today, ADRA works in over 125 preventative healthcare, improve food security,
different countries. and coordinate relief efforts with government
initiatives. In order to implement its programs,
ADRA in the DR Congo: ADRA receives funding from a variety of
different sources including USAID, UNHCR,
The core objective of ADRA in the DR DANIDA pooled fund, UNDP, WFP, and UNICEF.
Congo is to enable the economically
disadvantaged to overcome poverty by working
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Africare
US Contact Person: Overseas field offices contact:
William P. Noble Francis Hammond
Director, Francophone West and Central Africa Country Director
Regional Office Africare/DRC
440 R Street, NW 243.81.224.6956
Washington, DC 20001 africare1@gbs.cd
202.426.3614
Wnoble@africare.org
Introduction: beneficiaries. The second program in Kinshasa
also deals with street and vulnerable children,
Founded by Africans and Americans and currently serves 688 beneficiaries. Funding
amidst the Sahelian drought of the early 1970s, for these programs has been provided in the
Africare has grown to become a leader in aid to past by the Gates Foundation, Medecins du
Africa ― pioneering various types of self‐help Monde and the Mairie de Paris.
development programs and noted for its close,
collegial relationships with the people and In South Kivu, Africare has a large
leaders of Africa. It is the mission of Africare to agricultural development program which
work to improve the quality of life in Africa. currently benefits 10,800 Congolese people.
Africare works in partnership with African Approximately 18,000 individuals have been
communities to promote health and identified as vulnerable and potential
productivity. Africare places communities at the beneficiaries of this program, with a projected
center of development in the belief that only cost of $3,500,000 for the next two years.
through strong communities can Africa feed Seventy percent of needed funds are secured
itself, develop and manage its natural for this period from USAID, executed in
resources, provide adequate education and consortium with ADRA International.
vocational training, address people's needs for
health care and disease prevention, achieve
economic well‐being and live in peace.
Africare in the DR Congo:
The main foci of Africare in the DRC are
to care for street children and to provide rural
development assistance. In Kinshasa, Africare
has two main programs focused on child
protection. In the first, Africare is currently
serving 10,000 Congolese children, but projects
that as many as 25,000 others are potential
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Air Serv International
US Contact Person: Overseas Contact Person:
Morgan Butler‐Lewis Philippe Sauvage
410 Rosedale Court, Suite 190 Air Serv International
Warrenton, VA 20186 139/13 Avenue du Port
540.428.2323, ext. 117 Quartier Mont Goma
mbutler‐lewis@airserv.org Ville de Goma/N.K./DRC
243.817.008.487
243.815.466.947
88.16.214.19641 (sat.phone)
phsauvage@airserv.org
Introduction:
In times of war and natural disaster, the
world's most respected humanitarian relief and
development agencies and organizations rely on
Air Serv International. Whenever ground
transportation is impossible due to destroyed,
damaged or non‐existent infrastructure, Air
Serv planes provide vital access for
humanitarian aid organizations.
Air Serv International in the DR Congo:
Since 1999, Air Serv International has
steadfastly supported the programs and
initiatives of fellow humanitarian agencies and
organizations by providing safe and reliable air
transport for staff and vital cargo into areas that
are otherwise inaccessible. Air Serv
International’s donors include USAID/OFDA,
MSF, DFID, ECHO, IOM and the UN (pooled
funding). Working together with nearly 100
international aid agencies and organizations, Air
Serv makes it possible every day of the week for
aid to reach the most vulnerable populations
throughout the East Central region of the DRC.
14
Baptist World Aid/Baptist World
Funding for programming comes largely
Alliance (BWAid)
from private donation and BWAid will be
actively working with its 212 worldwide
US Contact Person:
member bodies in seeking to fund these
Paul Montacute, Director
projects. To implement its programming
Baptist World Aid
prerogatives, BWAid works in cooperation with
405 North Washington St.
the member body Baptist unions/conventions
Falls Church, VA 22046
that are present in the DR Congo.
703.790.8980
bwaid@bwanet.org
Introduction:
The Baptist World Alliance is a
fellowship of 214 Baptist conventions and
unions comprising a membership of 36 million
baptized believers and a community of 105
million. The Baptist World Alliance began in
London, England, in 1905 at the first Baptist
World Congress. Baptist World Aid (BWAid)
works through Baptist communities around the
world, mitigating suffering and providing long‐
range help for persons in need, regardless of
religion, nationality, tribe or class. BWAid also
helps individuals and communities avoid
situations of famine and malnourishment as
well as improve their capacity for self‐help and
wage earning.
BWAid in the DR Congo
The Baptist World Alliance has eight
member bodies in the DRC. Baptist World Aid
assists the unions/conventions in their
programs of relief and development. BWA
currently has nine projects that fall under the
sectors of agriculture and food production,
business development, cooperatives and credit,
disaster and emergency relief,
education/training, gender Issues, health care,
and rural development.
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Catholic Relief Services
US Contact Person: LUBUMBASHI
Ed Kiely Fortuné Agboton, Head of Office
228 West Lexington Street 8412, Avenue du Lac
Baltimore, MD 21201 Quartier Baudouin
410.951.7420 Commune de Lubumbashi
ekiely@crs.org Lubumbashi, Katanga, DR Congo
243.81.451.8316fortuneaa@yahoo.fr;
Overseas field offices contacts: fagboton@cd.caro.crs.org
KINSHASA
Nicole Poirier, Country Representative BUKAVU
12 Bis, Avenue Nyembo, Nicole Balliette, Eastern DRC Country
Quartier Socimat, Representative
Kinshasa‐Gombe, C/o Caritas Diocésaine de Bukavu
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) 203 Avenue P.E. Lumumba,
For mail correspondence, use HQ address ‐ see Commune d’Ibanda,
above #1) BUKAVU, South Kivu, DR Congo
243.99.100.9500 243.81.560.4285
npoirier@cd.caro.crs.org nballiette@buka.cd.caro.org
Introduction: and promote social justice. The agency
maintains strict standards of efficiency,
Founded in 1943, Catholic Relief accountability and transparency.
Services is the official international relief and
development agency of the Catholic community Catholic Relief Services in the DR Congo:
in the United States. The agency carries out
relief and development programs in over 100 The goal of CRS in the DR Congo is to
countries and territories around the world, enable Congolese communities and individuals
serving more than 80 million people on the in targeted areas to lead lives of dignity and
basis of need, regardless of race, religion or successfully address new challenges and
ethnicity. CRS responds to victims of natural opportunities. CRS/Congo works in
and man‐made disasters, provides assistance to collaboration with a variety of partners,
the poor to alleviate their immediate needs, especially Catholic Church partners at the
supports self‐help programs that involve diocesan and national levels. The Church has
communities in their own development, helps become a critical part of the socioeconomic and
people restore and preserve their dignity and social welfare fabric of the DRC, serving the
realize their potential, and helps educate most vulnerable and needy. CRS is committed
Americans to fulfill their moral responsibilities to building the capacity of Church and other
to alleviate human suffering, remove its causes partners. Currently, CRS implements projects in
16
seven program areas: justice and peace, drying up and underground water levels are
community health, HIV/AIDS, agriculture, declining. Additionally, immense pasture areas
emergency response, livelihoods recovery, and in the Moba district have lots of grass but no
education. cattle. Cattle were once the mainstay of the
economy in much of Eastern Congo, providing
CRS/Congo’s main office is in the capital natural fertilizer for crops, not to mention
of Kinshasa. In 2006, CRS opened sub‐offices in animal traction for farming, and a source of
Bukavu (South Kivu province) and Lubumbashi fresh raw milk to bolster people’s immune
(Katanga) to more effectively respond to systems and health, prevent malnutrition, and
emergency needs in these regions. In 2008, in diversify their diet. Warring factions and the
recognition of programming growth and the fleeing population have pillaged the cattle and
enormous complexity of the country, a senior other livestock leaving little.
(country rep) level representative was posted in
the Bukavu office and a full‐time permanent In 2008, CRS/Congo’s total program
Program Manager was posted in Goma, North value is estimated at over US$ 11 million.
Kivu. Currently, CRS implements projects in 10 Funding for CRS CRS/Congo programming
of the current 11 provinces across the country: efforts comes from private donors, USAID,
Bas‐Congo, Bandundu (one project in Global Fund – UNDP, Global Alliance for
Popokabaka), Kasai Occidentale, Kasai Vaccination Initiative, OFDA, BPRM, UN Pooled
Orientale, Katanga, Maniema, North Kivu, South Funds, UNICEF, Gates Foundation, and the WFP.
Kivu, Orientale (one project in Ituri), and In order to implement these programming
Kinshasa. initiatives, CRS collaborates with many different
agencies including Caritas, ECHO, UNICEF,
In implementing its projects, CRS has USAID, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,
identified several points of specific concern to Interchurch Medical Assistance, Church of
the DR Congo. The first point of concern for Christ in Congo, World Vision, BDOM,
CRS/Congo is that limited transportation Foundation Femme Plus, Education for Health,
infrastructure creates significant obstacles in Global Alliance for Vaccination and
dispatching staff safely to areas where their Immunization, Rotary International/DRC, Red
services are most needed. In addition, all Cross of Congo, FAO, Episcopal Commission of
provinces of the DR Congo exhibit food security Justice and Peace, ORPER, Publish What You
problems and many provinces exhibit severe Pay Coalition, UNDP, Global Fund, INERA
food security concern according to an (Agriculture Research Institute), Ministry of
organizational study conducted in June 2007. Health, and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Thirdly, CRS points out that there are two
sectors which have met little success in
attracting donor support but are areas of
emerging need: reforestation and livestock
repopulation programs. In savannah areas in
Moba and other areas of Katanga, the
deforestation is beginning to have a noticeable
impact on water availability as the wells are
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Food for the Hungry
US Contact Person: Overseas Field Offices Contact:
Sara Sywulka Michael Mulford
Director of Relief Programs Interim National Director
236 Massachusetts Ave., NE, Suite 305 Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Washington, D.C. 20002 243.99.424.7707
202.547.0560 mmulford@fhi.net
sara.sywulka@fh.org
FH works specifically in South Kivu,
Introduction: Maniema, and North Katanga provinces. In
terms of the size of its programming efforts, FH
Food for the Hungry was created in 1971 by Dr. serves 400,000 beneficiaries per year, funded
Larry Ward. Today it provides disaster and by a budget of over $3 million per year. In order
emergency relief in more than 26 developing to implement its programs, FH works with
countries. Food for the Hungry works to meet various local agricultural and livestock
physical and spiritual hungers worldwide associations.
through programs such as child sponsorship,
food production, water and sanitation, health
care, agriculture, relief and church
development.
Food for the Hungry in the DR Congo:
FH has been operational in the DRC
since 1994, assisting the population of the
troubled region in the aftermath of the
Rwandan genocide. Largely focused on relief
operations in the last decade, saving lives has
been the main mandate of FH DRC, through
fighting malnutrition, preventable diseases, lack
of potable water and lack of basic
infrastructure. Currently FH DRC is involved in
the sectors of food security, water & sanitation,
infrastructure development and health &
nutrition. These sectors are mostly operating in
a relief setting but in 2008 the programmatic
landscape is shifting to include longer‐term
development projects, i.e. a Multi Year
Assistance Program funded by USAID/Food for
Peace.
18
International Medical Corps
US Contact Field Contact
Ben Hemingway Pierre Willems
Deputy Director, International Operations Country Director
1313 L St., NW, Suite 220 International Medical Corps‐DRC
Washington DC, 20005 41 Av. Kabare
202.828.5155 Ibanda, Bukavu
bhemingway@imcworldwide.org South Kivu, DRC
243.98.09.05.52
pwillems@imcworldwide.org
Introduction: In addition to satisfying immediate needs, IMC
International Medical Corps (IMC) is a global focuses on training and education to empower
humanitarian nonprofit organization dedicated communities to handle current and future
to saving lives and relieving suffering through challenges on their own. All operations, from
relief and development programs. Established assessment to execution, are done in
in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, IMC is partnership with the Ministry of Health and 80
a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian percent of IMC staff are country nationals. An
organization. Its mission is to improve the area of special concern to IMC the ongoing
quality of life through health interventions and conflict in eastern DRC and the security
related activities that build local capacity in obstacles it creates for humanitarian aid
areas where few organizations dare to serve. By organizations.
offering training, medical care, and other health
interventions to people at the highest risk, IMC The expanse of sectors encompassed by
rehabilitates devastated health care systems IMC’s work in the DR Congo is quite broad and
and helps bring them back to self‐reliance. includes disaster and emergency relief,
education and training, agriculture and food
IMC in the DR Congo: production, gender issues, health care,
HIV/AIDS, refugee and migration services, and
International Medical Corps aims to not rural development. In order to implement its
only provide relief, but also create sustainable programs IMC works closely with the Ministry
solutions to some of the most difficult of Health (MoH) to build the capacity of the
challenges facing the DRC. IMC serves local health system. IMC also partners with
vulnerable communities, working in and around UNICEF, WFP, FAO, and UNFPA. IMC receives
displacement camps as well as hard‐to‐reach funding from OFDA, PRM, Procter and Gamble,
area in North and South Kivu, to reduce UNHCR, UNDP, UNCEF, UNFPA, WFP, Child First
morbidity and mortality through primary health Meds Lucress, and Dick Watson Children’s
care, nutrition, food security, sexual and Foundation. IMC works in both North and South
gender‐based violence awareness and Kivu and more specifically in Hombo Nord,
treatment, and water and sanitation services. Goma, Walikale, Chambucha, Karisimbi, Kalehe,
19
Fizi, Uvira, Kabambare, Ruzizi, Bunyakiri, Kimby‐ they can feed and support themselves through
Lulenge, and the difficult‐to‐access health zone their vegetables.
of Hauts Plateaux.
IMC provides both medical care and
In terms of emergency and disaster psychosocial support for survivors of rape and
relief programming, IMC brings emergency gender‐based violence, and works to combat
health care services to those displaced by the physical, emotional, and social effects of
ongoing conflict in DRC. IMC establishes gender‐based violence. IMC’s medical services
temporary health facilities in displacement include voluntary testing and treatment for
camps and works in permanent facilities in the HIV/AIDS and other sexually‐transmitted
surrounding area. This two‐prong approach infections, as well as surgical repair for fistulas,
enables IMC to be able to provide the necessary which are severe gynecological ruptures that
health services even if violence forces people to can occur in extremely violent rape cases.
move and camps to close. This enables IMC to
work in camps, but also have a more permanent IMC makes health services available for
presence in the region in case populations 350,000 Congolese in North and South Kivu
migrate. provinces with 62 health facilities that are built
in and around displacement camps and four
IMC programs also focus on training hospitals. IMC’s extensive health care
and education by recruiting 80 percent of its programming includes basic health care, as well
staff from among the displaced Congolese as maternal and infant health, and emergency
populations, aiding the transition to self‐ nutritional support. IMC has also trained
reliance. IMC’s training efforts work to enhance doctors in the surgical repair of fistulas.
the success of the Ministry of Health, as well as Additionally, IMC provides extensive HIV/AIDS
create new health professionals in communities education, testing, treatment of opportunistic
– particularly the displaced ‐ throughout infections, as well as prevention tools including
eastern DRC. IMC encourages its trained drugs to prevent mother‐to‐child transmission.
community health workers to form committees IMC trains community health workers in safe
so they can reach out to their local communities sex education and other issues critical to
and educate their peers in HIV/AIDS, sanitation, HIV/AIDS so they can then reach out to their
rape prevention, and other areas critical to communities. Lastly, In South Kivu, IMC
public health. provides health assistance to Congolese
refugees from neighboring countries. Toward
In the agricultural sector, IMC helps to that aim, IMC provides health services in transit
safeguard communities from food insecurity centers and assists returnees during the
with an agricultural livelihood program that has convoys to their villages of return.
provided families with the tools and skills they
need to grow their own vegetable gardens. IMC IMC’s work in the arena of water and
agricultural programming targets survivors of sanitation engages local partners in developing
rape and gender‐based violence – who are effective and sustainable solutions concerning
often ostracized from their communities – so the scarcity of potable water. IMC engineers
gravity‐fed water systems that channel clean
20
water from high‐altitude water sources to
designated sites, including health facilities and
schools. IMC also promotes point source
purification of water by providing children with
PUR water sachets each week to make water
purification an integral part of the home.
Additionally, IMC funds an educational
campaign around the importance of clean water
and sanitation in health, which include school
outreach to create youth clubs that promote
hygiene and clean awareness among their
peers. Lastly, IMC capitalizes on the abundant
rainfall of the DRC by using locally‐available
resources to build rain catchment systems.
21
International Rescue Committee
US Contact Person: Overseas Contact Person:
Brian Sage Bob Kitchen
212.551.0988 Siège National ‐ Immeuble COTEX #63
brian.sage@theirc.org Avenue Colonel Mondjiba Kinshasa/Ngaliema
RD Congo, BP 8 119
243.81.65.12.419
CountryDirector@DRCongo.theIRC.org
Introduction: destroyed in the conflict and helps communities
to administer them. In terms of overall
Founded in 1933, the International programming, the IRC works in the sectors of
Rescue Committee is a global leader in health, gender issues, emergency and disaster
emergency relief, rehabilitation, protection of response, and rural development.
human rights, post‐conflict development,
resettlement services and advocacy for those IRC’s DR Congo emergency team
uprooted or affected by violent conflict and responds to outbreaks of violence, dispatching
oppression. The IRC is a critical global network critical supplies and aid to the newly displaced
of first responders, humanitarian relief workers, within 48 hours. IRC health teams work with the
healthcare providers, educators, community local Ministry of Health to support 174 health
leaders, activists, and volunteers working facilities in conflict‐affected areas, providing
together, to provide access to safety, sanctuary, equipment and drugs, training health workers
and sustainable change for millions of people and managers and rebuilding health centers.
whose lives have been shattered by violence Additionally, the IRC is also a leader in
and oppression. IRC is on the ground in 42 assistance for survivors of gender‐based
countries, providing emergency relief, violence. IRC staff members work closely with
relocating refugees, and rebuilding lives in the local partners to ensure survivors have access
wake of disaster. Through 24 regional offices in to counseling, specialized health care, legal aid
cities across the United States, the IRC helps and income generation support.
refugees resettle in the U.S. and become self‐
sufficient. The IRC also focuses on strengthening
civil society, building the capacity of local
The IRC in DR Congo: organizations so that they can address and
advocate for the needs of communities. IRC
The IRC has been providing technical advisors work with parents groups to
humanitarian assistance in the Democratic increase economic opportunities so that they
Republic of Congo since 1996. As the country can afford to send their children to school.
struggles to recover from a devastating civil Finally, the IRC is currently significantly
war, the IRC provides emergency assistance expanding its community driven reconstruction
aimed at saving lives, revives basic services program which aims to encouraging meaningful
22
interaction between communities and their
local authorities as well as create linkages of
accountability and responsibility.
The scale of IRC’s programming in North
Kivu is approximately 9,500,000 USD and comes
from UNICEF, OFDA, ECHO, and UNDP pooled
funds. IRC’s North Kivu programming has
189,000 beneficiaries. In South Kivu the total
scale of funding is 25,805,000 USD and comes
from DFID and USAID. In Maniema, in
partnership with CARE, the IRC is implementing
a 3,553,500 USD governance programming with
funding from DFID. In Katanga, the size of IRC
programming is 5,300,000 USD, going to health
projects and funded by the World Bank. The
total number of beneficiaries served by IRC
programming in South Kivu, Maniema, and
Katanga is 1.78 million.
23
Mercy Corps
US contact person: Overseas Field Offices Contact:
Laura Miller Luke King
Program Officer for West and Central Africa Country Director
Mercy Corps Mercy Corps DRC
3015 SW 1st Avenue Avenue Corniche, #10
Portland, OR 97201 Goma, DRC
503.595.0545 43(0)99.057.0138
lmiller@mercycorps.org lking@cd.mercycorps.org
Introduction: sanitation and hygiene, food security, and
disaster and emergency relief.
Mercy Corps exists to alleviate
suffering, poverty and oppression by helping Mercy Corps works in North Kivu
people build secure, productive and just Province and carries out its programming in
communities. Mercy Corps works amid Kongolo, Kalemie, Goma, Rutshuru, and
disasters, conflicts, chronic poverty and Nyanzale. The agency receives funding from
instability to unleash the potential of people USAID/Office of Food for Peace, USAID/Office of
who can win against nearly impossible odds. Foreign Disaster Assistance, UNICEF, and
Since 1979, Mercy Corps has provided $1.5 UNHCR. The total scale of funding for Mercy
billion in assistance to people in 106 nations. Corps’ DR Congo programming is $14,840,000
Supported by headquarters offices in North USD and benefits 250,000 individuals. In terms
America and Europe, the agency's unified global of its cooperative partnerships, Mercy Corps is
programs employ 3,500 staff worldwide and an active participant in cluster meetings and the
reach nearly 16.4 million people in more than weekly UN OCHA information meeting.
35 countries.
Mercy Corps in the DR Congo:
Mercy Corps’ DR Congo programming is
driven by a desire to save lives, to build assets,
and to restore livelihoods. The strategies
employed to accomplish these goals include
working to mitigate acute human suffering, to
improve access to capital and jobs, improve
incomes, and also to improve basic services.
The specific programming of Mercy Corps in the
DR Congo falls under the sectors of water,
24
Oxfam America low levels of sanitation and hygiene options for
large and concentrated populations lead to
US Contact Person: serious public health consequences which must
Elizabeth Stevens be addressed. Efforts by Oxfam affiliates will
226 Causeway Street, Ste 5 target cholera specifically, but also malaria,
Boston, MA 02145 acute respiratory infections, HIV/AIDS, and
estevens@oxfamamerica.org diarrheal diseases.
Introduction: With an estimated population of over
800,000 internally displaced people in North
Oxfam America was founded in 1970 by Kivu and an expected population of 244,000
a group of volunteers in response to the internally displaced or returned people in South
humanitarian crisis created by the fight for Kivu, there is a significant need for ongoing
independence in Bangladesh. Today, Oxfam water, sanitation and hygiene promotion work.
America is an international relief and Oxfam programming reaches 45,000 individuals
development organization that creates lasting in North Kivu and 17,250 individuals in South
solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice. Kivu, with an expected 175,000 IDPs to return
Together with individuals and local groups in to South Kivu soon. Funding for these programs
more than 120 countries, Oxfam saves lives, comes from Oxfam Great Britain, Oxfam
helps people overcome poverty, and fights for America, and the Mariposa Foundation.
social justice. Oxfam America is an affiliate of
Oxfam International.
Oxfam America in the DR Congo:
Oxfam America is working with Oxfam
Great Britain to provide public health services
to an estimated 100,000 individuals to reduce
water, sanitation and hygiene related diseases
in cholera endemic displacement and returnee
areas in four Health Zones in North and South
Kivu. The selected health zones have limited
access to safe drinking water, with the majority
of the population drinking water and/or bathing
from unprotected sources that are polluted and
sources of typhoid, cholera, dysentery, worms,
and parasitic or diarrheal diseases. A survey
lead by Oxfam Great Britain in 2006 indicated
that family latrine coverage is low and that
existing latrines are of poor quality and
ineffective. Poor water quality/quantity and
25
United Methodist Committee on of Kamina, Likasi, and Pweto. The overall scale
of UMCOR’s programming manifests itself in a
Relief (UMCOR)
budget of just under 2 million USD, serving a
beneficiary population of about 200,000.
US Contact Person:
UMCOR receives funding to implement its
Alberta McKnight
policy prerogatives in the DR Congo from USDA,
475 Riverside Drive, Room 1374
USAID, and the Academy for Educational
New York, NY 10115
Development.
212.870.3552
amchnight@umcor.org
Introduction:
Dating back to 1940, present day
UMCOR grew out of a desire to combat the vast
human suffering of World War II. Started only
as a temporary relief unit, the committee
repeatedly received approval from the General
Conference to continue its important work, and
eventually, in 1972, became an institutionalized
unit of the church and part of the General
Board of Global Ministries of The United
Methodist Church. Today, UMCOR is the
humanitarian relief and development agency of
the United Methodist Church, a worldwide
denomination. Compelled by Christ, UMCOR
responds to natural or human made disasters—
those interruptions of such magnitude that they
overwhelm a community's ability to recover on
its own.
UMCOR in the DR Congo:
UMCOR began operations in the DR
Congo in 2002, building upon the presence of
the United Methodist Church already
established there. UMCOR missions in the DR
Congo fall under the categories of agriculture,
water and sanitation, micro finance, and
education. Most of UMCOR’s programming
efforts in the DR Congo are centered on the
southeastern province of Katanga, in the areas
26
Women for Women International business development. Upon completion of
Women for Women’s training programs,
Overseas Field Offices Contact: participants are given a training kit that allows
Christine Karumba them to create small businesses in their
DRC, Avenue Claire No. 01/02 selected vocational fields.
Nguba, Bukavu/Sud Kivu, RDC
ckarumba@womenforwomen.org Women for Women International
carries out its humanitarian programming in
Introduction: Goma, Bukavu, Baraka and Fizi. The total scale
of Women for Women International’s funding is
Driven by the idea that “stronger $1.8 million USD, which comes from private
women build stronger nations,” Women for contributions, UNHCR, USAID, and PRM.
Women International mobilizes women to Through its programming prerogatives, a total
change their lives through a holistic approach of 21,185 women have been served and 6,900
that addresses the unique needs of women in women are active participants. In order to
conflict and post‐conflict environments. implement its programming goals, Women for
Women for Women International provides Women International works with a variety of
women survivors of war, civil strife and other partners including Doctors without Borders,
conflicts with the tools and resources to move IMC, BPRM, UNHCR, and Panzi Hospital in
from crisis and poverty to stability and self‐ Bukavu. An area of special concern for Women
sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil to Women International as it works in the DR
societies. Congo, is ensuring the safety of its staff amid
the increasing conflict. Program operations and
Women for Women International in the DR travel will be suspended if the security of staff
Congo: and participants reaches a critical point.
The work of Women for Women
International in the DR Congo is focused on
promoting active citizenship, creating income
generation opportunities, and increasing social
inclusion. To this end, programming is
accomplished through: sponsorship, rights
awareness and life skills training, men’s
leadership training program, as well as
vocational, technical skills, and business
development training. The programming
initiatives of Women for Women International
touch a wide variety of development sectors
including women in development, gender
issues, health care, human rights promotion,
education/training, agriculture, and also
27
World Vision
Overseas Field Offices Contact:
US Contact Person: World Vision Democratic Republic of Congo
Rob Solem, Grants Officer 1854, Av. Kapenda
300 I Street, NE C/Lubumbashi M/S
Washington, DC 20002 Lubumbashi, Katanga 4539
202.572.6309 Democratic Republic of Congo
rsolem@worldvision.org 243. 81.073.0190
Introduction:
types of programming carried out by World
Founded in the 1950s, World Vision is a Vision in the DR Congo falls under the
Christian humanitarian organization dedicated categories of disaster and emergency relief,
to working with children, families, and their education/training, health care, HIV/AIDs,
communities worldwide to reach their full refugee and migration services, and water and
potential by tackling the causes of poverty and sanitation. World Vision’s efforts in the DR
injustice. World Vision serves close to 100 Congo touch many provinces including the
million people in nearly 100 countries around Haut‐Katanga Province (Kipushi, Lubumbashi),
the world. World Vision serves all people, Lualaba Province (Kolwezi), Kinshasa Province
regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. (Maluku), Kongo Central Province, North Kivu
Province, and South Kivu Province.
World Vision in the DR Congo: In addition, World Vision is implements
projects under two USAID grants. The first is the
World Vision began operating in the Belgian Integrated Health Services Program, or Project
Congo in 1958, and has continued to provide Axxes. This program is designed to help
development and relief assistance through the stabilize and rebuild the three dimensions of
current day. World Vision is committed to DRC’s integrated health systems: primary
partnering with the people of the DRC to healthcare interventions, support systems, and
enhance their lives today and to help enact organizational levels. The second is Project
sustainable solutions for the future of their Amitie. Through this program, home‐based
communities, families, and children. Currently, caregivers and peer support groups will be
nearly 75,000 children in the DRC are registered trained through community care coalitions to
in the World Vision child sponsorship program provide a range of home‐based services,
and many more Congolese citizens benefit from including psychosocial support, health services
World Vision activities. Of these registered (including referrals, free consultations, and
children, many have World Vision sponsors in education), school fee waivers, educational
other countries. U.S. donors sponsor nearly materials, vocational training, and income‐
19,000 girls and boys. In addition, World Vision generating activities. In addition, an innovative
operates 24 area development programs, five sustainable community savings program
of which are supported by U.S. donors. The pioneered in several African countries will be
28
implemented. Household resilience will be
increased through establishing household
gardens with high nutritional value and by
promoting positive attitudes.
29