Blog

Mwenga, South Kivu (DRC) – As part of its innovative project "Women in Action," the NGO PIFEVA (Promotion and Feminine Initiatives for Environment and Active Life) recently conducted a participatory diagnostic aimed at understanding biophysical conditions, the impacts of climate change, vulnerability factors among local communities, and traditional adaptation knowledge. This initiative, which forms part of efforts to build climate resilience among women and indigenous communities, marks a significant step towards implementing sustainable solutions tailored to local realities.

A Dedicated Team for Precise and Relevant Data

To conduct this diagnostic, PIFEVA mobilized a team of 20 investigators, including 4 women and 16 men, trained to survey and interact with residents of the targeted villages. In just a few weeks, this team surveyed 720 people across 10 villages in Mwenga, reaching a broad demographic range that included 261 adolescent girls, 315 women, and 144 men. This participatory approach ensures that the voices of all segments of the community, especially women and adolescent girls, are represented, providing a more comprehensive understanding of local environmental challenges.

Context and Goals of the Women in Action Project

The Women in Action project, implemented by PIFEVA in South Kivu, aims to strengthen climate resilience among women and promote sustainable practices that address the increasing effects of climate change. Mwenga, a region in South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, faces numerous environmental threats: erosion, biodiversity loss, and a high dependence on natural resources vulnerable to climate changes.

Through this participatory diagnostic, the project seeks to identify specific vulnerability factors in the region and existing local adaptation knowledge. By collecting and analyzing this data, PIFEVA can adapt its activities and develop strategies that truly meet community needs, while integrating traditional knowledge into climate resilience practices.

Key Findings from the Diagnostic

The survey revealed several essential insights:

1. Impacts of climate change: Residents in Mwenga villages are directly affected by climatic phenomena such as prolonged droughts, irregular rainfall, and declining water resources.
2. Vulnerability factors: Dependence on subsistence agriculture makes local populations particularly vulnerable to climate variability, exacerbating poverty and food insecurity.
3. Local adaptation knowledge: Communities in Mwenga have developed local resource management practices, including soil conservation techniques and farming methods adapted to changing conditions.

Toward Sustainable and Inclusive Solutions

The results of this diagnostic will form the basis for developing strategies to strengthen women’s resilience to climate change. Through the active involvement of communities and the inclusion of local knowledge, PIFEVA is implementing solutions tailored to the realities of Mwenga that will enable local populations to better cope with upcoming environmental challenges.

Conclusion: A Lasting Commitment to Mwenga and South Kivu

This participatory diagnostic marks a major milestone in the Women in Action project. By combining scientific approaches and traditional knowledge, PIFEVA is working to build a more sustainable and resilient future for women in Mwenga and their communities. The success of this initiative reaffirms the importance of an inclusive and collaborative approach in addressing climate change impacts in the DRC.