Mushie is a landlocked area with a waterway as the primary means of access as well as for transporting goods. Despite its strong potential, the level of development in agriculture in Mushie remains low. Among other difficulties, farmers have to pay arbitrarily and disadvantageous fees to "baleinière" boats operators preventing them from the benefits of their production. And although women account for over 70% of the production of goods and income, they are disproportionately affected by conditions of vulnerability and chronic poverty.
In this new project area, ACORD is seeking to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable populations and contribute to sustainable development through a combination of practical support and civil society capacity building.
Ongoing projects
Since 1996, ACORD in DRC has been working closely with the communities in order to give them the means of making their voices heard and achieve their rights. Livelihoods and food security, HIV/AIDS, gender and conflict transformation are the main thematic areas pursued by ACORD in DRC.
>> Livelihoods and food security: Since 2006, ACORD has been working with communities in Buta located in the Eastern Province implementing a project for economic and social reunification through emergency livelihoods support. In this area severely affected by the conflict, the project promoted social reintegration. Concrete outcomes include the installation of water pumps enabling local populations to access potable water. This has had a direct impact on women's struggles to access water and also resulted in a reduction of cases of water-borne diseases.
>> HIV/AIDS: Targeting high risk groups, ACORD has been creating awareness on HIV/AIDS in the Kingabwa area in Kinshasa. Local organisations are also supported in reaching community members with messages on HIV and AIDS across villages, through radio programmes, such as those aired on Rubi community radio in Buta.
>> Women's rights: ACORD helps communities, organisations and institutions to integrate gender consciousness as a way of life through training, sensitisation, and enabling the self-reliance of women. ACORD is implementing a regional programme on the hidden war crimes of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) in the Great Lakes Region, including in DRC, Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania and Kenya. In DRC, the programme conducted a judicial audit with a view to stop the impunity on SGBV. Moreover, ACORD advocates for a fund to benefit the survivors of SGBV, as well as their rehabilitation through counselling to heal psychological traumas.
>> Peace building: ACORD is supporting communities to unite in their fight against poverty. ACORD uses participatiory approaches, social exclusion analysis, and social dialogue encouraging local communities to work together, beyond ethnic, racial, tribal and gender barriers.
Where we work
Our projects are concentrated in Kinshasa and in the Eastern Province, particularly in the territory of Buta in the district of Bas Uele. In 2010 we are launching a programme in Mushie in the region of Mai Ndombe.
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Communities in Democratic Republic of Congo tell their stories
Mr Beyenito Kwayo Gilbert is a member of Communauté Bagbé 16 that was supported by ACORD to construct fish ponds. He encountered real challenges of food insecurity in Buta his home town. His biggest problem was associated with protein deficiency, and many of his children suffered from malnutrition.
Today, the intervention of ACORD has allowed the whole community to be self reliant by generating their own food. The children from this community have been returning to school and the families have regained their livelihoods.
In addition, starting with only two fish ponds, this community has been able to construct up to nine ponds and the activity continues to expand into the neighbourhood.
Our partners in Democratic Republic of Congo
In DRC, we are seeking to extend our network of partners who share our vision and mission. ACORD has worked closely with Réseau Action Femme, the Women Lawyers' Association of Congo (AFEMAC) and several associations of people living with HIV/AIDS. ACORD is also supporting the Community Platform for the Development of Buta.
ACORD is a member of the sub group on Sexual Gender Based Violence which is a body with links to the Ministry of Gender, Family and Children. ACORD collaborates with a number of organisations and UN agencies including UNIFEM, FAO and PNMLS Bas Uele.
Donor partners include UNIFEM and the Dutch Government (MDG3 Fund).
Photos, videos and publications
Pour l`effectivité de la loi: Synthèse d`un audit sur les pratiques judiciaires en matière de violence sexuelle en République Démocratique du Congo. a review of legal practice on sexual violence the DRC looking at: - what national laws deal with sexual violence; - how judges and other court officials interpret the law; - police attitude to sexual violence; - role of health institutions The review also makes recommendations for civil society advocacy to improve the response to sexual violence.
français
A summary is also available of all the 'legal audits' carried out in five countries in the Great Lakes Region:
english | français
La protection et la réparation en faveur des victimes des violences sexuelles et basées sur le genre en droit Congolais. Report on options for improving the legal system for responding to sexual and gender-based violence in DRC, in particular on establishing compensation mechanisms for survivors.
english | français
You can also find more resources on ACORD's work in the DRC on our website.
Photos of ACORD's work in DRC can be sent upon request by writing to communications@acordinternational.org
How you can support communities in Democratic Republic of Congo
Financial donations and in-kind support to ACORD's DRC Programme will contribute to the successful implementation of our projects for the communities in Kinshasa, Buta and in Mushie. With your support, we will make sure our programmes will have a lasting impact on the livelihoods and development of these communities.
Make a donation to ACORD in Democratic Republic of Congo now! Thank you.
Pour l`effectivité de la loi
La protection et la reparation en faveur des victimes des violences sexuelles et basées sur le genre en droit Congolais
Sylvie Elenge-Nyembo, Area Programme Manager for ACORD in Congo DRC.
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