300 g of seeds for a family in the DR Congo

Peace begins on the plate Peace begins on the plate

Secure food and income for conflict-affected families in eastern DR Congo

Coltan is found in every cell phone. The mineral is therefore one of the ores in high demand. Ore mining, in turn, is fueling the military conflicts in the province of South Kivu in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The outbreaks of violence have destroyed the livelihoods of many people in the country and forced millions to flee (WFP, 2021). In the Minembwe highlands, a large part of the population lacks sufficient and healthy food. There is a particular lack of seeds. In addition, the arrival of thousands of displaced people from neighboring regions has further exacerbated the situation (Commune Rurale de Minembwe, 2019). At the same time, around 40,000 Burundian refugees live east of Minembwe, having to make do with US$6 a month for food in the Lusenda and Mulongwe refugee camps (Evariste, 2020). "A hungry belly has no ears," says Naum Butoto, a long-time expert on the situation and project partner, in an interview in 2021. In regions that are faced with population growth and resource scarcity, conflicts between refugees and host communities often arise.

need

Balanced nutrition and income increase for refugees and host communities in South Kivu province (DR Congo).

activity

Seeds for staple foods and vegetables are transported, sorted and packaged in a seed bank and distributed to small farming families.

Measurable performance

Number of households receiving seed packets and increasing their agricultural production.

Result

Farming families improve their food security and generate surpluses. Trust is built up among the respective population groups.

Systemically relevant impact

Members of different communities can live together peacefully and sustainably.

background

There is actually no shortage of resources in the DR Congo: valuable ores on the one hand, tropical rainforests and freshwater reserves on the other. But these treasures have not led to greater prosperity among the population. The ruthless colonial rule, dictatorship and civil wars as well as the fight for raw materials have plunged the country into a permanent crisis. The people of South Kivu suffer particularly badly from violence and a lack of prospects. One of the main reasons is the activity of domestic and foreign armed groups. At the same time, ethnically motivated conflicts flare up again and again. There are murders, sexual violence and the decline of the economy. For years, families in Minembwe have lived on less than 1 to 1.50 US dollars a day - around 40 percent of them are internally displaced persons from other parts of South Kivu (Evariste, 2020). The local population is thus forced to share their already meager harvest. Malnutrition is also a feature of everyday life in the Lusenda and Mulongwe refugee camps and their surrounding areas. The increasing shortage of food is putting the coexistence of displaced people and host communities at risk. Against this background, a variety of seeds protects and increases crop yields. People are able to eat two nutritious meals a day and sell surpluses. In addition, all ethnic groups work actively together. This increases their motivation to ensure long-term peaceful coexistence.

Minembwe region and the Lusenda and Mulongwe refugee camps Democratic Republic of Congo

The good deed

Thanks to your good deed, a seed package made up of staple foods such as corn, beans and potatoes, as well as various vegetables such as cabbage, onions, eggplant and amaranth, will be distributed to families. The seeds are first transported to the project regions and stored, sorted and packaged in a seed bank. The large areas of particularly fertile soil in the region form the foundation for long-term prosperity. The distribution of seeds takes place as part of a comprehensive project: it goes hand in hand with the establishment of the seed bank, the leasing of agricultural land, the founding of small farmers' cooperatives, agricultural training and conflict training. By improving the supply situation for all those affected, potential conflicts are defused and future opportunities are opened up. Mutual understanding between the local population, the internally displaced persons and the Burundian refugees in South Kivu is strengthened.

AboutDemocratic Republic of Congo

Kinshasa

Capital city

89 561 404

Population

556.8

Gross domestic product per capita per year

Rank 175 of 189

Human Development Index (Human Development Index)

The DR Congo is the second largest country in Africa and has the largest rainforest area on the continent. Approximately 50 percent of the world's coltan production comes from the Congo (Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, 2009).

About the organization and further information

organization

Solidarity Service International eV (SODI)

website

www.sodi.de/home

Further links

Commune Rurale de Minembwe, 2019. Rapport de l'identification des déplacés et des besoins d'urgence suite au conflict des groupes armés dans le secteur de Lulenge, groupement de Basimuniaka sud, cas des villages des haut plateaux de Minembwe.
Evariste, M., 2020. Etude de faisabilite du program multisectoriel dans les hauts de Minembwe et camp des refugies burundais de Lusenda et Mulongwe au Sud-Kivu en RD Congo.
WFP, 2021. Democratic Republic of the Congo, as of August 26, 2021, Rome.