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Discover who we are, our mission, and our commitment to empowering vulnerable women and girls in the About PIFEVA NGO section.
Our history
PIFEVA, Pillar for Active Vulnerable Women in the Democratic Republic of Congo
IPIFEVA is a Congolese women-led non-governmental organization. It was granted legal personality by Ministerial Order No. 382/CAB/ME/MIN/J&GS/2026 of 6 October 2026, issued by the Minister of State, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its mission is to support Indigenous women, vulnerable and marginalized women, and local communities in the fight against poverty and injustice in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. PIFEVA was founded on 4 June 2004 in Bukavu, South Kivu Province, in response to a particularly difficult context: recurring wars and mass population displacement; widespread poverty, malnutrition and hunger; the effects of climate change; violence against women and discrimination against Indigenous women and girls within communities; the spread of STIs and HIV/AIDS; and the exploitation of women and children in mining sites and their use by armed forces and groups. With more than twenty years of field experience, PIFEVA now works in five provinces of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: South Kivu, North Kivu, Maniema, Ituri and Tanganyika.
The Origin of the Name PIFEVA: The Symbol of the PILLAR
The name PIFEVA comes from a familiar image in Kivu: a banana plant heavy with fruit and leaves, but threatened by the elements (strong winds, the effects of climate change, soil depletion, erosion…). In this situation, the local and Indigenous knowledge of Kivu teaches people to set up a wooden pillar against the banana plant. The pillar supports it, protects it and keeps it from falling with all its harvest. Vulnerable women in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo are like this banana plant. They carry the lives of their families and communities, yet they are exposed to violence, the effects of climate change and insecure livelihoods. PIFEVA was created in response to this reality, to serve as a humanitarian and development PILLAR for Indigenous and vulnerable women, children, young people and local communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Over the years, PIFEVA has strengthened its roots in the region and established itself as a leading women-led NGO in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Our Vision
See the indigenous woman, the vulnerable and marginalized woman, the child, the young girl as well as local communities accompanied to become competitive and artisans of their own social, economic, legal, cultural and political promotion in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Our Mission
Support indigenous women, vulnerable and marginalized women, children, young people and local communities in the fight against poverty and injustice in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Range of action
The Democratic Republic of Congo as a whole constitutes the operational scope of our organization. The eastern part of DR Congo constitutes PIFEVA’s priority zone.
Our areas intervention
PIFEVA operates in several provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to strengthen women's rights, promote their economic empowerment, and support local sustainable development initiatives.
Provinces covered
- South Kivu
- North Kivu
- Ituri
- Maniema
- Tanganyika
OUR GOVERNANCE BODIES
The governance of PIFEVA is governed by four functional statutory bodies below:
1
General Assembly (Supreme body composed of 470 members including 98% women members);
2
Board of Directors (executing body of the policy and decisions of the General Assembly of PIFEVA. It is made up of 5 members including 4 women);
3
Control Commission (Composed of 3 members, including 100% women);
4
Coordination (Executive body, design and implementation of projects and daily management of PIFEVA. It is led by a woman and is currently made up of 14 experienced agents including 10 women).
Our values
The fundamental values that drive our organization.
At the PIFEVA NGO, we are guided by integrity, inclusion, equality, empathy and commitment to positive change. These values are at the heart of all our interventions, reflecting our determination to create a more just and equitable world for all women and vulnerable girls.
- Equality;
- Solidarity
- Accountability;
- Creativity;
- Credibility;
- Perseverance;
- Skill;
- Transparency;
- Competitiveness;
- Networking.
Our partners
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