Congo DR

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.

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.

Areas of focus

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: ACORD has been working with local communities' development in Eastern province since 1996. In this area severely affected by the conflict, ACORD has been working for the economic and social reunification of local communities through emergency livelihoods support reaching out more than 50 000 marginalised people. From 2009, ACORD started to support rural communities, especially women, in the western part of the country in Bandundu province to promote food security. ACORD is empowering small holder farmers' organisations and women's groups to engage in local development and to improve their agricultural production capacity for the benefit of the rural population depending on agriculture for their survival.

>> HIV/AIDS: Targeting high risk groups, ACORD has been creating awareness on HIV/AIDS in the Kingabwa area in Kinshasa. Since 2008, in collaboration with the main PLWHA networks in DRC (RNOAC and UCOP+), ACORD is participating in regular advocacy activities to empower PLWHA to have access to their rights to HIV treatment, care & support services and for the enforcement of the Act 018/011 which is aiming at protecting the rights of PLHA and affected persons by recognizing their full legal capacity and equal rights. 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. HIV/AIDS is also mainstreamed in all the other programmes of ACORD.

>> Women's rights: In Bandundu province, ACORD has been working to reduce the socio-cultural practices promoting marginalization and impoverishment of women and to strengthen women capacities in advocacy (including through local radios with a specific program called Mwasi lamuka!) so they can defend their rights and be heard at local and provincial levels. In Eastern province, ACORD is building the capacity of local NGOs and legal clinics for improved legal and judicial support for survivors of sexual and gender based violence (SGVB) so they can access justice and reparation. Sensitization campaigns are also organised to end the actual impunity around SGBV. Since 2012, under ACORD's pan Africa Programme for Women's Security to Bodily Integrity and Economic Justice, ACORD is working to alleviated harmful cultural practices deterring women's land ownership, access to economic assets and resulting in sexual violence practices and towards effective reparation programmes and funds for women's land and SGBV violations injustices implemented by the government.

>> 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

 


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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 UN Women, FAO and PNMLS Bas Uele.

Donor partners include DFIDUN Women, UNDP, the Dutch Government's FLOW programme and Jersey Overseas Aid Commission.

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.
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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

Promoting women's rights in DRC
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Photos from ACORD's gender work in DRC

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. Contact us by e-mail

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.

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