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Following the training in agroecological techniques, the women acquired technical knowledge and farming practices that allowed them to improve their production while safeguarding biodiversity.

Indigenous and rural women are responsible for implementing the initiative's activities and developing production and value-addition strategies. For example, they harvested six hectares of cassava tubers, which they then processed and sold, thereby increasing their income.

The means and techniques of production, which are still very rudimentary and not very sustainable, lead to low agricultural output, characterized by low local consumption. This situation requires communities to fully commit to the principles and techniques of agroecology and to respect the related disciplines. Capitalizing on all available knowledge is essential to promoting increased production. Low production and low consumption can lead to the abandonment of certain seeds in favor of a monopoly of others, which is also a danger to the protection of biodiversity because it profoundly affects traditional habits and lifestyles.

Food autonomy and sovereignty are fundamental bases for the self-determination of communities within their conservation areas and territories. While these communities make significant efforts to protect their traditional lands, with a considerable impact on maintaining biodiversity, these efforts can only be sustainable through the improvement and enhancement of their livelihoods, which are based on the local use of natural resources and agricultural production.

Under the guidance of the ANAPAC consultant and the agronomist from MAHARIFA YA WAMAMA VIJIJINI, the focus was placed on related disciplines connected to agroecological principles, which are crucial for improving production. A training session was organized to remind the communities about the choices to be made regarding seeds and the areas to be farmed. Disregarding seed selection criteria and a lack of proper management of the farming sites can lead to insufficient production.

Community conservation areas must have planning and management documents, including zoning, so that the different areas are allocated to specific uses such as conservation, resource exploitation, agriculture, and sustainable utilization. Agroecology should play a major role, particularly in the areas designated for exploitation, to enable communities to apply the knowledge acquired on agroecological principles. This would allow them to actively participate in protecting biodiversity and preventing climate change.

Indigenous and rural women, along with young people, were the direct beneficiaries and key actors of the initiative. They prepared and executed the activities, while other groups were involved in strategies to enhance production value. This involvement facilitated an increase in agricultural income and strengthened food security.

Agroecology is not yet a sufficiently developed approach and method in community conservation areas. It is therefore crucial to promote it to encourage communities to engage in protective techniques that also help curb deforestation.

The initiative supported actions aimed at strengthening community resilience against threats to biodiversity. Non-sustainable farming techniques destroy biodiversity, and, conversely, food insecurity can lead to its degradation. To break this vicious cycle, communities were trained in agroecological farming practices, including the abandonment of slash-and-burn methods. The illustration above is an example of this.

Through this initiative, 3 villages have engaged in agroforestry, using the related techniques as a method of agricultural production, and are committed over time to adding value to their products through processing, sales, and improved incomes. Illustrative photos taken after the agroforestry training session.

With the aim of strengthening and securing the collective commitment and responsibilities of indigenous peoples and local communities for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods, Maharifa ya wamama ensures the respect for the cultural diversity and the individual and collective rights of these peoples and communities by integrating them as stakeholders for improved conservation.

Engaging communities that hold community conservation areas in profitable and sustainable agriculture in the territory of Kalehe and MWEKA in the province of South Kivu and Kasai in the Democratic Republic of Congo; advancing the agroecological transition in the production, processing, and marketing of food was the priority theme of the submission of this project to the Agroecology Fund by Maharifa ya wamama vijijini in collaboration with ANAPAC and the community solidarity of indigenous women from the BATWA –KADIMA community area in MWEKA.

. Toujours dans le cadre de la remise des outils de transformation, la communauté se joint aux femmes pour célébrer cet acte inoubliable, rendu possible par Aynfound via FiMI, et porté par Maharifa en faveur des femmes autochtones et rurales de Kalehe, Bunyakiri à l’Est de la RDC.

It was an opportunity to confirm the roles and effectiveness of all stakeholders in project implementation. For example, proper operation of the sealing machine used for product packaging requires technical mastery. The technician must follow all necessary steps carefully to ensure high-quality work.

During monitoring and evaluation activities and preparation of the mid-term report, an assessment session was held with the facilitator, involving committee members and representatives from the five women’s groups. The goal was to evaluate the progress of processing activities and assess the women’s management capacity.

We can consume organic and local, with commitment and involvement, by promoting the inclusion of Indigenous and rural women in sustainable agriculture and responsible land use. This not only protects biodiversity and mitigates climate change but also upholds nutritional health—one of the pillars of human well-being. Ensuring women’s land rights is critical to improving human welfare. Respecting the rights of Indigenous women sends a powerful message about protecting humanity as a whole.

A sense of joy and surprise was evident among members witnessing the tangible production and availability of local agricultural products processed by Maharifa ya Wamama women. These organic products, in high demand in major urban areas, are poised to positively impact the women’s economic growth and further encourage engagement in sustainable agriculture. (Kika Byeka Marguerite)

An illustration from one of the Maharifa sites shows an animator visiting schoolchildren. After discussions with the women, ideas emerged about redirecting some of the revenues from processing activities towards priority needs—such as creating recovery centers or establishing two to three classrooms for young children who cannot travel the 30 kilometers to the nearest school. This situation creates instability for women trying to sustain their socioeconomic initiatives. (Dieu Veut Bwenge, Maharifa ya Wamama animator, rural DRC)

As an Indigenous and rural woman herself, she described her feelings as beyond words. Reading the labels and seeing the Maharifa logo on the bags of agricultural products now sold and consumed in the city reinforces the visibility of women’s talent and their ongoing fight for rights and autonomy. Kavira Odette, overwhelmed with gratitude, expressed that this support from Aynfound is unlike any other—it speaks for itself.

The distribution manager in Goma city expressed deep appreciation for Aynfound’s support, which has significantly contributed to the empowerment of Indigenous and rural women. It also boosts agroecological benefits for these women, who rely on agriculture to meet their essential needs

Ongoing capacity-building sessions are conducted with the team to ensure high standards in packaging the processed products.

Processed products are now ready for sale at the designated sales points.

The image illustrates how the processed products are packaged before reaching the market. The technician trains the Maharifa team on how to properly seal the packaging to ensure hygiene and protect the contents from pests such as rodents and cockroaches.

As part of functionality checks, the technician demonstrated rice processing and reassured the women regarding the quality and reliability of the equipment they received.

This approach is part of a broader effort to ensure secure income generation and proper oversight by the women involved.

Each site has also been equipped with a single-function mill, allowing women to begin cereal processing independently. This helps generate income, either through flour or monetary payments made by users. Women are being trained to operate the mills effectively and manage them vigilantly.

As part of the celebration for receiving the processing tools, the local community joined the women in marking this memorable achievement made possible by Aynfound through FiMI, implemented by Maharifa for Indigenous and rural women of Kalehe-Bunyakiri, eastern DRC.

Following a successful test run by the technician, the women expressed great satisfaction with the equipment and its effective functionality.

After assembly, the technician ensures the proper functioning of the machines, which were provided by Maharifa ya Wamama with the support of Aynfound, under the coordination of FiMI.

. This image shows the delivery of the second batch of processing equipment. We opted for detachable mills to facilitate transportation to the project site, given the poor condition of most access roads. What you see in the image are engines essential for the complete operation of the processing units. The detachable nature of this equipment significantly influenced the organization’s decision to select this supplier.

The second mill serves the same purpose as the first—multifunctional grain processing. These two major mills are designed to support the transformation of various cereals within the project, which is aimed at empowering Indigenous women in the Kalehe territory, South Kivu Province, specifically in Bunyakiri, eastern DRC.

. This is one of the multifunctional mills used for the processing of cereals such as rice, soy, maize, sorghum, millet, and others. These mills are shared resources across the five sites supported by the Aynfound-funded project.

The trainer consultant goes to the place of supply of the fry to assess the quality in order not to fall into the trap of slightly modified organisms which can be a cause of low production and an unexpected result. Hence, the good result also depends on the good selection of seeds and a good means of packaging. Indigenous and rural women having the greatest mission of protecting biodiversity, they must be very vigilant about the seeds of any culture they want to apply and have control over the originality of these seeds to avoid destroying the soil and losing certain traditional products by the introduction of foreign seeds.

The women are trained on how to raise fish in fish ponds after the rice harvest and how to manage waste to transform it into organic feed to feed these fry and make them large and ready for supply to households and the market to compensate for animal protein but also to enable empowerment among these women after the sale.

After the training on the effects of climate change, which do not spare the existence of other biological organisms or even their disappearance, the women received training on fish farming to ensure good health in their families and communities because human health requires a healthy and balanced diet. In addition to the availability of cereals which are a constructive caloric food, the human body needs protein foods whether animal or vegetable, man needs them. Imbalances between this reality can cause disorders in human health and bring families and communities into a picture of diseases caused by certain protein deficiencies or even kwashiorkor

After raising awareness about climate change and its consequences, indigenous and rural women are at the heart of transforming their talents as a resilient measure to adapt to the effects of climate change. Recognizing that the effects of climate change create chaos on human life, these women are mobilized to respond to these phenomena through the activity of Rice cultivation, a method that provides access to a high production of cereals (rice) and fish. This method allows the compensatory balance of rainfall which will be managed by women whose regulation will be done according to the need and in a specific manner to the age of the plants which will play the role of the periodicity of the seasons during cultural activities.

Illustrative images of rice crops sown on fish ponds. These areas will be used for fish farming, a technique that women have learned to prevent climate change, which can be accelerated by certain human activities, including agriculture that does not respect agro-ecological principles. Since women are aware of the factors that influence climate change, including slash-and-burn agriculture and the search for fertile areas that encourage tree felling and facilitate the disappearance of biodiversity and the onset of climate change, the women were trained in fish farming, preceded by rice farming, while respecting the conservation of ecosystems.

Provision of equipment and construction of two bridges to facilitate the evacuation of agricultural services for indigenous and rural women in order to increase their cash flow and maximize their agro-ecological savings. These bridges will serve as exchanges between two groups and towards two cities that can connect these two groups from the city of BUKAVU in the province of South Kivu whose agricultural products can reach the capital of the DRC via the city of Goma (North Kivu) which is connected by the city of South Kivu which receives the agricultural products of these two groups.

Rehabilitation of 3 kilometers of agricultural services after the provision of equipment for the evacuation of agricultural products and maximizing agro-ecological savings among indigenous and rural women, whose economy is based on agriculture and artisanal products.

Provision of inputs for the rehabilitation of 3 kilometers of agricultural access roads and two bridges for the evacuation of agricultural products in order to access the right market in order to increase the cash flow and enable the empowerment of indigenous and rural women. Family photo after the said awareness-raising

The image illustrates five women's groups who, following awareness-raising and training sessions, have been provided with rice seeds and fish fingerlings. The photo captures the rice sowing activity. This initiative contributes to the protection and restoration of biodiversity and the mitigation of climate change effects. Practicing water-based agriculture combined with fish farming helps address low agricultural yields and offsets seasonal disruptions that contribute to reduced production, food insecurity, and price inflation due to shortages. Through this approach, women are leveraging their knowledge and skills to actively participate in climate change prevention and to develop adaptive strategies that foster community resilience.

Preparatory activities for the training site on rice cultivation integrated with fish farming were carried out to promote the traditional knowledge and values of indigenous and rural women, as well as their contribution to biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. A fishpond was prepared to serve as a training venue for five women's groups on rice-fish farming techniques.

Illustrative photos following the capacity-building and demonstration on the effectiveness of indigenous approaches to natural resource management and climate change adaptation, intended to support awareness models on the values and contributions of indigenous communities, as well as to promote their inclusion in the process of formulating inclusive and equitable policy frameworks.

PAWANKA FUND SUPPORTS INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S ACTIVITIES

Delivery of shelters to indigenous and rural women in the project sites, to facilitate the exchange of experiences, the transmission of traditional knowledge, awareness-raising and mobilization in the fight against domestic violence, including lack of access to land and violence due to the non-collection and sharing of various topics. 

 Delivery of equipment for the proper functioning of the shelters built by MAHARIFA YA WAMAMA VIJIJINI, supported by RRI in the project "Valuing the talents and traditional knowledge of indigenous and rural women for the protection of biodiversity and resilience to climate change in the North and South Kivu provinces of the DRC"

The Right Resource (RRI) project continues to play a key role in biodiversity conservation

First Processed Products: A Successful Start for the Groups

Training Women in Processing Techniques and Tool Maintenance

To strengthen the processing capacities and improve the efficiency of the groups, five cassava mills and two multi-purpose mills (for rice and maize) were distributed.

Provision of Advertising Billboards to Ensure the Visibility of Agricultural Products

FIMI, in partnership with MAHARIFA, has launched an initiative aimed at strengthening the visibility and capabilities of women farmers through the provision of modern processing equipment.

FIMI (International Indigenous Women's Forum), enabled five women’s groups to access resources for processing their agricultural products.

Planting Trees: A Concrete Commitment to Environmental Preservation

Experience Sharing Session On Land Access Rights For Indigenous And Rural Women

Capacity Building And Promotion Of Women's Leadership Activities

Training Session On The Different Forms Of Violence Against Indigenous And Rural Women

Problem Of Climate Change And Its Impact On The Lives Of Indigenous Women In Kalungu

Obstacles Encountered By The Organization's Supervisors At The Kalungu Site

The Danger Faced By Indigenous Women As a Result Of Not Accessing Land In Their Community

Climate Change Prevention Activity

Indigenous Women Exercising Their Talent For Climate Change Prevention

Prevention Of Climate Change

Empowerment Activity For Indigenous And Rural Women: Community Field Of The Bweremana Site

Empowerment Activity For Indigenous And Rural Women In The Kasangulu Site

Income-generating Activity, Kasangulu site In Kongo-Central

Promotion of Organic Food by Indigenous And Rural Women

Empowerment Activity of Indigenous and Rural Women for the Promotion of Healthy Diets

A WOMAN CARRIES THE BASKET IN THE FIELD OF CASSAVA

SIRITA TREE

WEAVING OF HARPOONS BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

TRANSMISSION OF TRADTIONAL KNOWLEDGE BY ELDERS TO THE YOUTHS

THE FIELD OF MISEVALUATION OF OUR TRADITIONS AND CULTURES AT BUNYAKIRI PROVINCE OF SOUTH-KIVU

ARTISANAL TRAINING ON THE WEAVING OF THE TRADITINAL HATS

TRANSMISSION OF TRADITIONAL KNWOLEDGE

VALORISATION OF OUR CULTURES BY THE TRANSMISSIONS OF THE KNOWLEDGES FROM ELDERS TO THE YOUTHS INDIGENOUS AT BUNYAKIRI PROVINCE OF SOUTH-KIVU

THE UTILITY OF WILD PALM TREE

THE FABRICATIONS OF BASKETS BY INDIGENOUS WOMEN

THE FAVORITE FOODS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

EXPLANATION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WILD PALM BY THE INDIGENOUS ADULT AT BUNYAKIRI/PROVINCE OF SOUTH-KIVU

THE FOREST THAT HELPS INDIGENOUS WOMEN TO GET MATERIALS

TRIMISSION OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGES TO THE YOUTHS COMMUNITY

CHOKO RIVER SECOND INACTIVE

THE MIGRATORY FISHES SITE DESTROYED FROM LACK OF INFORMATION BY INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY

VISIT OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S TEAM ON THE SITE OF MIGRATORY FISHES

THE IMAGE OF THE MIGRATORY FISHES

THE MIGRATORY PHENOMENON OF FISHES

THE SALINE OF BIRDS

MUNGOMANGOMA TREES

THE INCENSE TREE AND ITS VALUES

KALUNDA TREE

CHUNVU TREE

THE BONZI TREE

THE FEEDING TREE

THE TRADITIONAL MUHOKE TREE

THE DIFFERENT NURSERY TREES CLASSES

INDIGENOUS WOMEN SHARE THEIR TRADITIONAL KNOWLEGES

BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION AND STRUGGLING AGAINST CLAMATIC CHANGE

THE SOLUTION OF THE INGREDIENTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF THE DRY COUGH

ARTEMISIA IN POWDER

THE WAY TO PREPARE THE ARTEMISIA DURING THE DISEASES

THE USE OF ARTEMISIA DURING THE COVID19 CRISES

EXPLOITATION OF CERTAIN KNWOLEDGES AND TRADITIONAL PRACTICE TO FACE COVID19

AVOCADO TREES HELP ALSO DURING THE COVID19 PANDEMIC

MANGOES TREES WITH ITS IMPACT ON THE COVID19

THE USE OF MUTUZO TREE

EXPLANATION OF THE THEORY OF USING THE MUNZENZE TREE

THE LEMONGRASS

THE USE OF CYPRESS BY INDIGENOUS WOMEN TO BRING SOLUTION DURING THE COVID19

THE IMPORTANCE OF EUCALYPTUS DURING THE PERIOD OF PANDEMIC

THE LANE CHIEF TO PREVENT COVID 19 PHASES

THE SMALL GARDEN OF THE MEDICINAL PLANTS

CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY IN THE FIELD

MAINTAINING OF MAIZE'S FIELD IN KONDERO site

PREPARATION OF SEMI-SWEET POTATOES IN BUGANGA SITE

PREPARATION OF THE SEMI SOY IN KONDERO

INDIGENOUS WOMEN TAKE CARE OF THEIR FIELD OF BEANS IN KENDORO

THE FIELD OF CASSAVA

PREPARATION OF THE FIELD OF CASSAVA IN KAMBAKA BY INDIGENOUS

PRACTICE OF NURSERIES GARLIC IN MUGUNGA site

THE FIELD OF LEEKS IN THE KENDERO site

HARVEST OF BEANS IN KATALAGA'S SITE

PRODUCTION OF BEANS(KENDERO site)/TERRITORY OF KALEHE, SOUTH-KIVU PROVINCE

THE INDIGENOUS WOMEN OF MUGUNGA ARE DOING HARVEST OF BEANS

THE INDIGENOUS WOMEN ARE DOING THE HARVEST OF MAIZE

TAKING CARE OF THE FIELD OF MAIZE

DISRUPTION OF SEASON DURING THE PERIOD OF SEMI

ASSISTANCE OF FIMI TO THE INDIGENOUS WOMEN IN THEIR ACTIVITIES

THE INDIGENOUS WOMEN ARE DOING ACTIVITY TO PALLIATE AT THE FOOD SECURITY

ADJUSTAGE OF BOWLS IN ARGIL BY INDIGENOUS WOMEN

ERADICATE THE PRESSURE DID ON THE FOREST

FABRICATION OF BRIQUETTES

PRODUCTION OF ARGIL BOWLS

THE WOMEN ARE IN THE EVALUATION OF THE PRODUCTION OF THE BRAZIERS AFTER THE TRAINING

ACTIVITIES OF EMPOWERMENT

CERTAIN INDIGENOUS AND RURAL WOMEN FACING TO THE NEGATIVES EFFECTS

PREVENTION OF CLIMATIC CHANGE

PRODUCTION OF IRISH POTATOES

TREATMENT OF FIELDS

FIELD OF IRISH POTATOES

OIL PALM AVAILBLE, READY FOR THE CONSUMPTION OR THE SELL

THE ARTIFICIAL MILL FOR TRANSFORMATION OF OIL PALM NUT

HARVEST OF BEANS (KITALAGA’S SITE)

HARVEST OF CARROTS BY INDIGENOUS AND RURAL WOMEN

HARVEST OF CABBAGES

GENESIS OF THE CABBAGES AGRICULTURE

VILLAGERS ASSOCIATION OF SAVING AND GIVING LOAN

SENSITIZATION ON THE EMPOWERMENT

SENSITIZATION ON THE WOMEN RIGHTS

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE PREVENTION

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING ACTIVITIES

EMPOWERMENT OF INDIGENOUS AND RURAL WOMEN

MOBILISATION SESSION AT THE REALIZATION OF INDIGENOUS AND RURAL WOMEN AND THE AFTER PREPARATIVE WORK OF THE COMMUNAL FIELD

INDIGENOUS WOMEN ARE REJECTED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE LAND AND FOREST

SENSITIZATION SESSION ON THE INDIGENOUS LAND LAW AND ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION

INDIGENOUS WOMEN SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES

TWO TOPICS ARE APPROACHED TO THE DAYTIME

PREVENTION OF CLIMATIC CHANGE BY CERTAIN INDIGENOUS AND RURAL WOMEN FOR FACING TO THE NEGATIVES EFFECTS

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE PREVENTION

THE INDIGENOUS AND RURAL WOMEN WERE AWARE OF THEIR SITUATION

SENSITIZATION SESSION ON INDIGENOUS AND RURAL WOMEN’S LAND LAW AND ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION