Blog

Although Indigenous women bear the brunt of the climate crisis, their voices are too often ignored in the fight against climate change in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Through this project, 3,600 Indigenous women, essential guardians of nature and biodiversity, will be empowered to play a key role within their communities in protecting ecosystems through forest restoration solutions, the management and dissemination of traditional agricultural seeds, and the preservation of ancestral knowledge. At the forefront of the fight against climate change, they will be supported in defending their territories against exploitation, ensuring resilience and sustainability for future generations in the provinces of North and South Kivu and Maniema in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

However, their rights are not fully recognized and respected. PIFEVA is committed to empowering Indigenous women and working towards the full enjoyment of their rights. She advocates for their inclusion in political decision-making and discussion spaces, which is fundamental to achieving the SDGs and building a sustainable and satisfactory future for nutrition for all.

As a reminder, Indigenous women are intimately connected to their territories and consider themselves the primary guardians of nature. This is why the NGO PIFEVA has been supporting and assisting Indigenous women in protecting forest and natural resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo for some twenty years, given that in many cases, Indigenous women are also the managers of seeds and medicinal plants in their communities. They are essential to the survival of the food and knowledge systems of Indigenous Peoples in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

PIFEVA Communications Team