Democratic

Appeal No. MAA62002

Launch Date: 03/04/2008

This report covers the period of 01/01/2006 to 31/12/2007 of a two-year planning and appeal process.

In a world of global challenges, continued poverty, inequity, and increasing vulnerability to disasters and disease, the International Federation with its global Access to hygienic latrines has been one of the network, works to accomplish its Global Agenda, priorities of DR Congo Red Cross in 2007. partnering with local community and civil society to prevent and alleviate human suffering from disasters, diseases and public health emergencies.

In brief

Programme summary: During this reporting period, the Federation Delegation supported the Red Cross national societies (NS) of the Republic of Congo (CRC) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC-RC) for the first year and DR Congo only for 2007. During the two-year period, both national societies supported by the Federation carried out activities within the framework of the response to cholera outbreaks in Uvira, Fizi and (South Kivu) of DRC, outbreaks in Western Kasaï (DRC); floods in Inkisi (Bas-Congo) and Kinshasa (DRC), and Brazzaville (RoC). At the end of 2006, it was decided that RoC be detached from Kinshasa delegation and attached to Central Africa sub-regional office (CASRO), now Central Africa Regional Representation. Within the framework of the 2006-2007 Appeal, every achievement in the Republic of Congo (RoC) was reported on in the 2006 Annual Report. Thus this Final Report is mainly for 2007 and relates only to DRC.

After the election of a new governing board in DRC during the General Assembly held in November 2006, a new vision was set up and the process of renewing committees at provincial level took place from March to June 2007 in the 11 provinces of the country as a priority. The process to restructure the Secretariat General of the NS went continued until December 2007. Another concern was to boost the CAS and Operational Alliance processes which were finalized in late October 2007 with the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding. In the light of the experience of Programme Initiative Congo (PIC), the Federation supported the national society’s activities in Equateur, Province Orientale, the two Kivu,

1 Western and Eastern Kasai, and Bas-Congo. Given the deterioration of the socio economic situation in the East, the Federation reduced the volume of its interventions in the two Kivu provinces. Although, the implementation of activities following the PIC Strategy continued in two new provinces of Western Kasaï and Bas-Congo, the main activities carried out related to water and sanitation, vaccination against polio, measles, hygiene sensitization, disaster preparedness and response, fight against discrimination, assistance to victims of sex abuse and capacity building.

Goal: To meet the Federation’s mission to improve the lives of vulnerable people

Needs: Total 2006-2007 budget CHF 5,385,921 (USD 4,564,339.83 or EUR 3,264,194.545) (out of which 62 per cent covered).

Click here to go directly to the attached financial reports: report 2006 report 2007 report 2006/2007

No. of people we help: In 2006, the programmes were implemented with technical and financial support from Kinshasa and benefited about 535,700 people in DRC and RoC. In 2007, the Kinshasa delegation supported 1,400 Red Cross volunteers to carry out activities which benefited some 600,000 beneficiaries within the framework of Programme Initiative Congo in DRC. For 2008-2009, about 1000,000 people will be assisted in the same areas in DRC.

Our partners: During this reporting period, the national society maintained a dynamic partnership in the field to facilitate the implementation of activities. The existing partnership was consolidated in 2007 with 21 partners, among which international organizations like Tear Funds, DFID and GAVI, UN agencies like MONUC, UNICEF, WHO, WFO, UNFPA, UNDP and UNHCR, Red Cross components like ICRC, Federation, and the PNS of Belgium, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Great Britain; Greece and Iran, as well as the DR Congo Government and NGOs (PNMLS).

Current context

In 2006, presidential, legislative and senatorial elections were organized in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). During the first quarter of 2007, the security situation deteriorated in Kinshasa due to armed conflicts that opposed the army and Jean-Pierre Bemba's troops from 22 to 23 March, and in Ituri (Province Orientale) and the two Kivu where very active armed groups subsist and still terrorize and rob the defenceless civilian populations. The upsurge of armed conflicts between insurgents loyal to dissident general Laurent Nkunda and government troops in North Kivu causes a permanent instability. Concern over cases of serious abuses, including rape, summary executions, torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, and arbitrary arrests continue to be reported every day throughout the country, despite an improvement in the overall human rights record since the signing in 2003 of a peace agreement designed to end civil war in DRC. Thousands of cases of sexual abuse have been recorded (2,656 cases were recorded in North Kivu between January and October 2007, while 4,500 cases were reported in South Kivu during the first half of 2007, according to a UN source) all over the country, and hundred of thousands of people have been repatriated from Zambia, Tanzania, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and Mozambique. Moreover, thousands of Congolese have been expelled from Angola, causing countless humanitarian needs. According to UNHCR, over 53,000 people have been repatriated in 2007, including 19,795 in Equateur, 24,304 in South Kivu; 9,067 in Katanga and another 309 in urban areas. As far as internally displaced people are concerned, OCHA estimated to over one million the number of persons who have fled their homes because of conflicts. The situation deteriorated during the last quarter of the year in spite of the Nairobi Agreement signed in November between and DRC.

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In addition, DRC was affected by several natural disasters such as floods in Kinshasa, Bas- Congo, Equateur, Province Orientale, Katanga and Maniema as well as landslides that affected thousands of people in Eastern Kasaï and South Kivu. Cholera outbreaks occurred in North Kivu, South Kivu and Katanga, while plague and meningitis affected the District of Ituri in Orientale Province. The Ebola outbreak claimed the lives of more than 20 people in Western Kasaï province.

Progress towards objectives

Health and Care

Objectives: 1. The risk of prevalence of diseases with epidemic potential (Ebola, cholera and HIV) and malaria are reduced through capacity building and the mobilization of vulnerable populations in the targeted areas of DRC. 2. The understanding of HIV/AIDS and the attention to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are reinforced in the target provinces of DRC to change behaviours. 3. The multi-antigen immunization coverage rate has increased in target zones within the DRC.

Achievements

For Objective 1

In Equateur: 200 slabs for family latrines were constructed for 2,000 beneficiaries in and 10 slabs in Salongo/. Two (02) public latrines were constructed for 3,500 beneficiaries (one in a school in Mbandaka and another in the central market of Gbasubu/Gemena); 34 sensitization sessions were organized with the participation of the community on behaviour change regarding malaria, hygiene, good management of watsan facilities, diseases of epidemic potential; about 106,826 people were sensitized (14,842 families) and 29 sessions were organized to follow up the construction of watsan facilities and supervise coaches and volunteers in the field; nine new committees to manage the watsan facilities were created; five water wells were constructed for 4,100 beneficiaries in Mbandaka and Gemena and two water springs maintained for 2,000 beneficiaries (500 pygmies in Bongonde/Mbandaka and 1,500 Bantus in Libenge Moke/Gemena). About 800 impregnated mosquito nets were distributed to pregnant women and children under five years. Three (03) training sessions on PHAST were organized for 69 volunteers from the provincial committee of the Red Cross, mothers’ clubs and community members in Mbandaka and Gemena.

In Province Orientale: Five water wells and an evacuation canal of nine km were constructed to prevent floods in ; 30 family latrines were constructed, one water source maintained, five mini PHAST workshops organized in Kisangani; six sensitization sessions held on water, hygiene and sanitation; 60 community relays trained in Watsan and one (1) data baseline study realized. In 2006, the national society chlorinated water at water distribution points, thus preventing the populations from using unsafe water.

In South Kivu: 25 slabs for family latrines were constructed and distributed in Cahi; two public latrines constructed; three water springs maintained; five boundary-marks and five welcome posts for victims of sex abuse were set up.

In North Kivu: 50 slabs for family latrines were constructed.

3 In Eastern Kasai: 58 slabs for family latrines were constructed for 1,000 beneficiaries. Five water wells were maintained in Bena Kabongo/Mbuji-Mayi for 2,014 beneficiaries; 10 sensitization sessions with the participation of the community on behaviours change on malaria, hygiene, good management of watsan facilities, diseases of epidemic potential. About 24,730 people were reached and eight sessions organized to follow up the construction of watsan facilities and supervise coaches and volunteers in the field. Two training sessions on PHAST were organized to build the sensitization capacities of 42 volunteers; 120 community relays were trained in hygiene and watsan promotion; 1,600 community sensitization sessions on the fight against HIV/AIDS were organized in the city of Mbuji-Mayi.

In Western Kasaï: 100 slabs for family latrines were constructed, one (01) public latrine was constructed for 765 students and teachers; one water well was constructed for 1,500 beneficiaries; six water springs were rehabilitated for 8,365 beneficiaries; 24 sensitization sessions with the participation of the community on behaviour change on malaria, hygiene, good management of watsan facilities, diseases of epidemic potential. About 93,000 people were reached (14,842 families) and 19 sessions were organized to follow up the construction of watsan facilities and supervise coaches and volunteers in the field; 700 impregnated mosquito nets were distributed to pregnant women and children under five years. Three training sessions in PHAST were organized for 93 volunteers from the provincial committee, mothers’ clubs members, and six training sessions were organized to build the watsan and sensitization capacities of 165 volunteers; 110 volunteers were trained and mobilized for sensitization within the framework of the fight against Ebola; 27,146 people were sensitized on Ebola in , Kampungu, Luebo and Mweka.

For Objective 2

In 2006, 150 Red Cross volunteers carried out social mobilization and sensitization activities in West of the country, reaching 375,000 people. To prevent HIV/AIDS, 16,000 people were sensitized to the dangers of the pandemic.

In 2007, Red Cross volunteers carried out home visits in 348 families and sensitised 5,374 people in Province Orientale to the need of changing their behaviour; 1,249 people were sensitized on voluntary blood donation and 480 blood pockets were collected after five sensitization sessions by 30 peer-recruiters; 309 sensitization sessions were carried out in public places and 37,509 people were sensitized; 2,209 educational talks were held in listening stations and 31,580 people were sensitized; 626 campaigns were held on the use of condoms; 16,605 condoms were distributed and 21,499 people sensitized.

In Eastern Kasaï: Sensitization sessions were organized in 867 families and 107 sessions in public places, 42 people living with HIV/AIDS were referred to voluntary screening centres and two public sensitization sessions on voluntary screening were organized.

For Objective 3

About 320 volunteers were mobilized in Bas-Congo (120), (80), and Equateur (120) during the vaccination campaign against polio. To fight against malaria, 800 impregnated mosquito nets were distributed in Mbandaka and Gemena in remote areas.

Disaster Management

Objective: The vulnerable communities in the provinces and divisions targeted by the programme in DRC are better informed about risks, are capable of foreseeing disasters and can take preventive measures following the PIC approach.

4 Achievements After the training of 77 Red Cross volunteers on VCA in (Equateur), Kananga (Western Kasaï), Kisangani (Province orientale), Katana (South Kivu) and Bena Kabongo (Eastern Kasaï), the DRC Red Cross developed a three-year plan of action for Western Kasaï, Province Orientale and South Kivu. A project on risk mapping was drawn up in and at the same time, a plan to preposition first-aid stock was set up. Red Cross volunteers also conducted vulnerability and capacities assessment in /Bas-Congo and Maniema. A questionnaire-type was elaborated by the national society with the support of the Federation; 1,435 supervisors of first-aid volunteers were promoted; seven sensitization sessions on the risk of volcano took place in North Kivu, and 5,300 people were reached.

In addition, more efficient interventions to respond to disasters were conducted. For example: • In Bas-Congo: response to floods in Inkisi was conducted. • In Eastern Kasaï: 8 training sessions on CBFA (289 volunteers trained in Mbuji-Mayi); 8 sessions of sensitization on fight against erosions and 39 simulation exercises were organized. Some 115 volunteers trained in Novitiate in Equateur. • In Province Orientale: Response teams were briefed and participated to different coordination meetings during the celebration of Independence Day (June 30). 700 volunteers were supervised. In addition, data processing and working out the reports on VCA were carried out in Isangi. • In Equateur: With the supervision of two Red Cross volunteers of Mbandaka, the local committees of Yakoma, Abuzi and Wapinda in North east of Equateur assisted 1,,500 victims whose homes were damaged following a devastating arson and an information bulletin was prepared. The local committee received material support from the Belgian Red Cross. The Federation assisted populations in maintaining 3 water wells, training 60 volunteers and sensitizing victims on hygiene promotion, early warning (7,000 people sensitized in Bumba), and distribution of non food and capacity building of Red Cross committee; support in water disinfection products and distribution of clean water and non food items. The Red Cross also assisted flood victims in Bumba (DREF) and cleaned gutters in Gemena/Equateur. • In North Kivu: In 2006, 22 teams of Red Cross volunteers were retrained on volcanic and gas emission management and sensitized people. In 2007, four people drowned in Lake Kivu were buried. During the African child day celebration and during 04 football matches, volunteers carried out first aid actions. Then, following the rainfall which destroyed 2002 houses in Kibumba (Nyirangogo) affecting 600 families, a need assessment was carried out. To stimulate disaster management division, first-aid members of the evacuation teams were a retrained in how to anticipate the situation in Masisi and Rutshuru. • In Western Kasaï: Two emergency interventions for victims of train accidents in Kananga and Kakenge (Western Kasaï) were carried out; 41 volunteers trained in CBFA in Kananga); support provided to provincial committee of Kampungu, Luebo and Mweka with protection equipment, agriculture tools, water disinfection products, motorcycles, bicycles, computer equipment and non-food items to fight against Ebola. A project on risk mapping was drawn up in Goma for capacity building of national society in disaster management; 89 volunteers were trained in Novitiate (32 in Mbandaka, 20 in Goma and 37 in Kisangani University). A training/recycling also took place in Kisangani for 22 volunteers in CBFA. The Federation supported two national society members of RDRT/Watsan (from Equateur and Eastern Kasaï) to take part into a training workshop in Tintane and Kiffa/Mauritania. • In Maniema: a team composed of 40 volunteers of Red Cross and the community carried out a vulnerability and capacities assessment in the city of and the surroundings in November 2007. It was supervised by national and provincial staff of the DR Congo Red Cross.

5 Humanitarian Values

Objective: The level of discrimination and stigma against all vulnerable groups is reduced in DRC.

Achievements Some 2,640 radio programmes were broadcasted to disseminate Federation Principles and Humanitarian values through the media in eleven provinces. A national 16-day campaign was initiated by the Government against sex abuse affecting a larger part of the country, especially the Eastern provinces.

Joint training sessions were organized in Equateur for pygmies and Bantus. Some pygmies were integrated in Red Cross structures (two pygmies were appointed as coaches and one as driver at the provincial headquarters. Women from pygmies’ community were integrated in mothers’ clubs which supervise ladies in carrying out different activities (appropriated technology). Five hundred pygmies were given access to clean water through a water spring maintained by Red Cross volunteers; 21 volunteers were trained in dissemination of Humanitarian values in Equateur; five bicycles were given to pygmies’ community, on the basis of two for coaches and three for income generating activities (taxi). In August 2007, 92 people, including 54 pygmies took part into a thinking workshop organized on the integration of pygmies in the community. Thirty-two groups and associations were represented to that meeting and some recommendations were formulated to reduce discrimination. A training workshop in CBFA was organized for 60 pygmies in Katana /South Kivu to break the barrier and involve them in community activities. Ten other pygmies were trained in carrying out vulnerability and capacity assessment sessions. In Eastern Kasaï, 20 pygmies were trained in the Red Cross Centre of literacy created in February 2006 in the district of .

Support was provided to victims of sex abuse in North and South Kivu through the 11 operational stations. These victims were oriented to the welcome centres in charge for the period of January to December 2007. Door-to-door sensitization sessions were organized in public places (schools, local churches, boundary-marks, associations, and public markets) on the risk of sex abuse. A total of 60,000 people in North and South Kivu have been sensitized. In addition, six family mediations allowed the reinsertion of victims who were rejected by their husbands in Bukavu. Thirty most vulnerable victims were given socioeconomic support in the form of second handed clothes.

Socioeconomic support was given to victims of sex abuse in South and North Kivu and volunteers ensured the follow up of income generating activities. Volunteers also distributed second hand clothes to 70 women in South Kivu in April 2007. Efforts were made to draw up child birth registration in Mbandaka/Equateur. Red Cross volunteers conducted sensitization on humanitarian values through the media. In South Kivu, 15 victims of sex abuse were trained in income generating activity management and 15 in welcome and orientation.

In Mbuji-Mayi/Eastern Kasaï, the ICRC supported the provincial committee to train 20 victims of sex abuse in bakery. An evaluation mission took place in Luebo, Ilebo and Mweka on fight against discrimination and sex abuse in Western Kasaï.

Organisational Development

Objective: The management of the human, financial and material resources of the national society is improved, and cooperation and coordination are reinforced.

6 Achievements The Federation supported the national society to improve the working conditions of provincial committees and monitoring and management activities. Different PIC committees were equipped with materials (computers, generators, printers, scanners, motorbike AG 100, printers, etc.) in Mbandaka, Gemena, Kananga, and Bas-Congo. Two vehicles (Land Cruiser) have been provided to Equateur and Western Kasaï. The telecommunication network of the national society has been improved within the framework of PIC. NS staff members were trained in financial management and financial reporting (operational advances) in PIC provinces, planning, community health, etc. A baseline study on water and sanitation in the zones of PIC duplication in Province Orientale has been realized. The Federation facilitated the signature of an Agreement with DFID to support the activities of the national society. In 2006 105,915 CHF were given to assist sex abuse victims and the victims of floods in North and South Kivu, and Province Orientale. In 2007, DFID gave 135,000 CHF for the same purpose. A support was given to the provincial committee to follow up income generating activities in Mbuji-Mayi. The Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of the Congo set up 31 new mothers’ clubs composed of 420 members in Mbandaka, Kisangani, Bukavu, Mbuji-Mayi, and Kananga to facilitate the promotion and integration of women in Red Cross activities, especially in the prevention of diseases and the management of income-generating activities in Equateur where Red Cross office has been completely refreshed.

Constraints In the first half of 2006, the delay in approving budgets slowed down the implementation of activities as planned. Since July 2006, the Kinshasa delegation remained without a head of delegation and watsan delegate. This had a negative impact on the implementation of programmes as the field delegate was compelled to spend most of his time in Kinshasa. In addition, the follow up of Federation’s activities lacked efficiency and impact regarding HoD volume of work to face the follow-up, the coordination, and the monitoring of activities and the assistance to national society in capacity building. Due to the immensity of the country and humanitarian challenges and to have a good operational delegation, the number of staff needed, apart from the Federation representative, includes for delegates, namely an organizational development delegate, a watsan delegate and two field delegates. In addition to his specific tasks, the organizational development delegate will assist the HoD in programme coordination. In a view to ensure an efficient intervention of the Federation in DR Congo, the country has been divided in three zones: the eastern zone supervised by a field delegate based in Kisangani, the central zone supervised by a Watsan delegate based in Mbandaka and the western zone supervised by the Federation country representative.

Working in partnership

Support was provided to the national society to reinforce the present partnership and ensure its diversification so that it becomes a reliable partner credible towards donors and other partners. This was made possible through the organization of CAS and Operational Alliance meeting on 30-31 October 2007. The ICRC, the Federation and five PNS signed the Memorandum of Understanding related thereto. In December 2007, the Spanish Red Cross organized a partnership meeting which brought together DR Congo friends to attract other partners into the action of the national society. A good partnership is maintained within the Red Cross Movement. A meeting takes place every 15 days between the national society, ICRC, Federation, German, Belgian and Spanish Red Cross at ICRC headquarters. In Kisangani, blood donors have been trained with the technical and financial support of National Multi-sector Programme for the Fight against AIDS and GTZ Health. The Federation contacted UNHCR for the repatriation of DR Congo refugees who were living in Tanzania and Zambia. The synergy between humanitarian actors is an important factor that characterized the humanitarian coordination in the benefit of vulnerable people during interventions.

7 Contributing to longer-term impact

The Federation played an important role in the implementation of activities of Programme Initiative Congo and the Cooperation Agreement Strategy and Operational Alliance. In addition, an agreement was signed with DFID to support DR Congo programmes. Data of VCA carried out by DR Congo Red Cross in all provinces are used by all humanitarian partners. In some provinces, the Red Cross has the leadership of cluster (watsan cluster in Equateur and Western Kasaï). Communities participated actively in all the activities carried out; they owned the sensitization on hygiene promotion; their access to clean water and to family latrines was improved; the prevalence of potential epidemic diseases decreased; the volunteers’ network was extended to the community of pygmies. In addition, the creation of mothers’ clubs followed the recommendations relating to the gender concept. This approach was introduced in the decision making process (30% of women represented in supervision and coordination teams). The income generating activities for sex abuse victims and pygmies contribute to the reduction of stigmatization and poverty. Several people were voluntarily registered for voluntary blood donation and voluntary screening at the end of sensitization sessions.

Looking ahead

The absence of an organizational development delegate is likely to affect the implementation of the programmes. This situation did not allow the Federation representative to better concentrate on representation, management and coordination tasks. This explains the strategy taken to ensure an efficient intervention of the Federation in DR Congo using three delegates. The country has been divided in three zones: the eastern zone supervised by field delegate based in Kisangani, the central zone with Watsan delegate in Mbandaka and the western zone supervised by the HoD. In spite of that, there still remain limits in the delegation action throughout the territory. This situation shows the necessity to finalize, for more efficiency of our intervention in DR Congo, the recruitment of OD delegate and to have a third field delegate for 2008. In 2008, DR Congo will develop its strategic development Plan and begin the implementation of activities in two new PIC provinces (Maniema and Katanga) where VCA have been carried out already.

How we work All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering quality and accountable assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for a full description of the national society profile, please access the Federation’s website at http://www.ifrc.org The International Federation’s Global Agenda Goals: activities are aligned with its Global • Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact from Agenda, which sets out four broad disasters. goals to meet the Federation's • Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from mission to "improve the lives of diseases and public health emergencies. vulnerable people by mobilizing the • Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red power of humanity". Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability. • Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity. Contact information For further information on this Appeal, contact: • In DRC: Abdoul Azize Diallo: Federation Country Representation, Kinshasa, email: [email protected]; phone: +243 818 801 400 • In Cameroon: Javier MEDRANO, Federation’s Regional Representative for Central Africa, Yaoundé; Email: [email protected] ; Phone +237.22 21.74.37/38; mobile +237.96 29 87 89; Fax: +237 22 21 74 39 • In Senegal: Alasan SENGHORE, Federation’s Head of West and Central Africa Zone

8 Office, Dakar ; Email : [email protected] , Phone: +221.869.3641; fax: +221 860 2002

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