Vulnerable people in DRC

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the people of the villages bordering the Upemba National Park are living in disastrous conditions: epidemics such as Ebola and Covid, armed conflicts that have lasted for over a decade, decay and insufficient roads and communication routes combined with the deterioration over time of the few agricultural resources available, have destroyed the fragile local socio-economic structure.

As a result of this general instability, food production and small businesses have been severely affected, causing large numbers of internally displaced persons and returnees who are unable to resume their livelihoods. Since the end of March 2020, the floods have affected the entire south-eastern area of the DRC, significantly undermining crop yields and the availability of food in the villages.

In order to survive, rural communities sometimes engage in illegal activities that damage the environment of the Upemba National Park, such as poaching, illegal fishing, gathering wild plants and vegetables and logging.

To reduce the populations’ vulnerability, there is a need to support them in the resumption of agricultural and productive activities, so that families no longer have to depend on exploiting the neighbouring Park and are able to have a job that produces income, saving their lives.

COOPI Suisse's project in the province of Haut Katanga, Mitwaba, is designed to meet these needs, including:

• the distribution of 1.200 hens and 200 improved breed roosters, already vaccinated and disinfested, to 100 families who use poaching in the Park to live. The activity will contribute to the protection of wild species in the protected areas. After the distribution, the families will be given tutoring sessions for the development of effective breeding techniques and for the implementation of small income-generating activities related to poultry farming in their villages.

• the distribution of 20 animals per association to 2 farmers' associations (60 families in total); each association will also be given two kits to start their production activities, the first consisting of tools such as spades, shovels, wheelbarrows and machetes, as well as a stock for feeding the animals (saline mineral blocks, concentrated food, etc.) and the second consisting of the veterinary material necessary for the care and maintenance of the animals (it will also be possible to set up two community veterinary pharmacies in the village, managed by the two associations). The associations will be provided with tutoring sessions to learn the most effective breeding techniques for small ruminants and the basics of veterinary care for primary diseases.

• the construction of a pond and the provision of 1500 juvenile fish (estimated 3/m2) for the start of fish farming activities for 30 beneficiaries, which will be formed as an association. The association will also be equipped with materials for the maintenance of the pond (wheelbarrow tools, shovels, spades, etc.) and for feeding the fingerlings in the first phase of production (concentrated feed).

The direct beneficiaries include 190 people (of which at least 85 are women) who will receive from the project the endowment to start productive activities.

Indirect beneficiaries are 1.140 individuals (of which at least 581 are women), members of the beneficiary families.

The local partners are COOPI DRC and ICCN - Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature.

The length of the project is from January 2021 to December 2021.