DR Congo: Joint Mission Reviews GAINS – Tuya Kumpala Progress in Strengthening Community Resilience
As part of the GAINS – Tuya Kumpala programme funded by the US Department of State, a joint mission comprising the Provincial Ministry of Agriculture, the Office for Agricultural Access Roads (OVDA) and World Vision DRC visited the Nyanga and Kitangua Health Zones to assess progress on agricultural activities and the rehabilitation of rural feeder roads ahead of their official handover to beneficiary communities.
The supervision mission, conducted under the mandate of the Provincial Ministry of Agriculture, aimed to assess progress achieved on the ground, identify key challenges and provide recommendations to maximise the programme's impact and sustainability. The findings confirmed that activities are largely being implemented in line with the planned schedule, despite significant challenges such as prolonged drought, poor soil fertility and bushfires, all of which continue to affect agricultural production. Nevertheless, the technical progress achieved reflects the strong commitment and active participation of the beneficiary communities.
The mission adopted a participatory approach, combining focus group discussions with field visits. This enabled participants to demonstrate their understanding of the agricultural techniques introduced through the programme and how they are applying these practices on both communal and individual farms.
In Kamatoma, discussions with Savings for Transformation (SILC) groups highlighted their contribution to improving household livelihoods through the diversification of income-generating activities, including farming, fish farming and small-scale trading. The Provincial Minister of Agriculture encouraged members to reinvest the income generated through SILC groups into activities that strengthen household resilience and reduce malnutrition, while also recognising the groups' role in reducing conflicts related to debt. To date, 170 SILC groups are being supported by the programme, with tangible improvements already visible at household level.
The programme's positive impact is also evident in the health and education sectors. The Head Nurse of Kamatoma Health Area and the Chief Medical Officer of Kitangua Health Zone both reported a significant decline in cases of malnutrition since the project began, attributing this progress to the work of lead mothers and Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) activities. In education, a school headteacher noted that children from households participating in SILC groups now attend school more regularly, as their families are better able to pay school fees.
Discussions with Farmers' Organisations also demonstrated the gradual adoption of improved agricultural practices. So far, 18 organisations are fully operational, while four additional organisations are currently undergoing formal registration, creating strong momentum for improved food security and local economic development.
Meanwhile, the community-led rehabilitation of agricultural feeder roads was widely commended. However, further improvements are still required, particularly in strengthening drainage systems and completing structures such as culverts to minimise the risk of erosion. These roads play a vital role in improving access to markets and reducing the isolation of rural communities.
The mission also identified several factors that will contribute to the programme's long-term sustainability, including the active involvement of local administrative and traditional authorities, strong community mobilisation and the willingness of local people to take ownership of the programme's activities. Nevertheless, significant challenges remain, particularly poor soil fertility and the growing impacts of climate change, both of which require sustainable and context-specific solutions.
Advocacy efforts were also undertaken with the Provincial Minister of Agriculture to facilitate the legal registration of Farmers' Organisations. In response, the Minister committed to reducing notarisation costs, a commitment that was warmly welcomed by the beneficiary communities.
Despite logistical challenges caused by the poor condition of the roads, the mission was carried out in a spirit of strong collaboration and commitment, with administrative, health and technical authorities reaffirming their determination to support the programme through to its successful completion.
Overall, the supervision mission highlights encouraging progress and confirms that the GAINS – Tuya Kumpala programme is making a significant contribution to strengthening household resilience, improving food security and promoting sustainable economic development across rural communities in Kasai.