Democratic Republic of Congo:
Food security
Strengthening resilience and autonomy in the province of Kasai Oriental​
Project: CARE Belgium
Location: Province of Kasai Oriental, DRC
Context:
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Since its independence from Belgium in 1960, after more than 75 years of occupation, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has had to cope with numerous internal conflicts, inheriting a fragile colonial structure that left a highly diverse population, fragmented both ethnically and regionally. Added to this are external influences, such as the funding of militias and armed groups by neighboring countries, power struggles between different political elites that have led to periods of severe instability, and the country's wealth in natural resources, which arouses intense covetousness and fuels the race for control of these resources. Despite this wealth, the DRC remains one of the poorest countries in the world, with a very low GDP per capita and a largely informal economy.
From an economic perspective, the province of Kasaï Oriental possesses significant potential in the agro-pastoral sector. It has vast expanses of arable land suitable for food and market gardening crops, as well as plains and plateaus conducive to livestock farming, both large and small.
The province’s economic life is also strongly influenced by the mining sector, particularly diamond extraction. The artisanal exploitation of diamonds has led to a massive movement of populations towards mining areas, resulting in the abandonment of agricultural activities. Consequently, the province has become dependent on other provinces and foreign sources to meet its food needs (Source: UNICEF).
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General objective
To contribute to improving the food and nutritional security of the most vulnerable farming households, by mobilizing a context-sensitive, gender- and environment-sensitive approach to direct support and advice in the Miabi, Lupatapata, Katanda and Tshilenge territories.​
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Perid of execution: 2024-2027​​​
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Beneficiaries: ​​​​1000 vulnerable households (in particular women)
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Main Donor: Enabel
Specific objectives
The first objective is to increase their resilience and autonomy in the face of various shocks, whether economic, environmental or climatic, in order to strengthen their physical and financial assets. This approach aims to significantly increase beneficiaries' incomes and improve their food and nutritional security, thanks to an integrated approach that combines collective and individual action on beneficiaries' fields, recognizing that family farming and group farming are mutually reinforcing.
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The second specific objective is to build the capacity of farm managers by promoting the adoption of innovative and sustainable farming practices, in order to reduce their economic and food vulnerability. This approach contributes to improving the sustainability of agricultural practices used by the most vulnerable households to manage their farms. Through individualized advisory support and appropriate technical training, vulnerable farmers will be able to implement at least one innovative and sustainable farming practice (crop rotations/combinations, use of biopesticides, improved fallow, composting, green manures, use of improved varieties, agroforestry practices).
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Finally, the third objective is to develop their economic and financial management skills, while promoting a greater role for women in farm decision-making processes. This approach aims to strengthen the economic and financial management skills of the most vulnerable farm managers, as well as the leadership and role of women in strategic and operational decision-making at farm level. Thanks to this result, the economic empowerment of beneficiaries will be strengthened through their access to alternative income-generating activities. Direct beneficiaries will be trained and supported to keep simplified accounts for their individual and cooperative activities. Transformative training on gender and the involvement of men in positive masculinity and the fight against Gender-Based Violence will be organized so that the women concerned by direct support to the most vulnerable households can be involved in decision-making concerning management at farm and household level. In addition, through this result, the number of women with direct and integral responsibility for at least one production and/or agricultural processing and/or marketing activity will have increased.