One of the most important strategies applied by UGEAFI throughout its various projects and programs is to involve the beneficiaries of its activities all along their implementation. This has of course numerous advantages that are all contributing to build up the resilience of the beneficiaries. Note for instance the two following key advantages: (1) Beneficiaries take ownership of the various projects’ activities and, ensure their success; (2) Beneficiaries are enabled to continue doing the same even after these projects for ensuring the durability of their results.

Sensitization on hygiene and proper management of water done by Water committee members around the fountain.

This strategy aligns directly with the vision of UGEAFI that is about to promote a resilient environment for the communities of Kivu in Democratic Republic of the Congo (its intervention zones).

To illustrate, the Water supply model implemented in Idjwi territory is a good example of this above mentioned issue. Within the project titled «Improving the living conditions of small-scale farmers through drinking water supply, income security and food diversification in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo », 21 water committees made up of 105 members including 63 women and 42 men were constituted in the four following villages: Nkuvu, Muguza, Boza and Bwina under UGEAFI’s staff supervision. Actually, these committees are in charge of:

• Ensuring an accurate management of the clean drinking water (Regulate drawing hours);
• Maintaining infrastructures (tank, pipelines and fountains) built for their sake;
• Sensitize the population on good practices and hygiene.

For the maintenance of the infrastructures built within the project, water committee members regularly collect funds from beneficiary households where for instance during the period from July to September 2020 in Boza only, committee members raised up an amount of 69.8$ (US dollars).

In fact, the above mentioned amount collected during that said period gets its sense when we figure out that subscribers (beneficiary households) are all in poor living conditions. Reaching therefore such an amount is a strong sign that people are getting progressively resilient and that after the project that is being implemented, infrastructures built will be well maintained by beneficiaries themselves.