Living boundaries: restoring Ituri's forests and peace
Actions pour le Développement et l'Entrepreneuriat (ADE-ClimaTerra-RDC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental resilience and socio-economic empowerment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Under the leadership of Idriss Balemba Bagalwa, we mobilize local communities, notably through OREMU, to restore degraded ecosystems through community-led agroforestry. Our multidisciplinary team combines technical expertise with deep field knowledge: Darius Kulondwa and Raïssa Sifa Kasongo lead our programs, while Etienne Mulindwa supervises operations and Agathe Cinja ensures rigorous monitoring and evaluation (MEAL). Together, we integrate ancestral knowledge, satellite data, and artificial intelligence to transform landscapes in Ituri and South Kivu, putting people at the heart of the ecological transition.
Project story
The ARCI project is not an experiment; it is the scaling-up of a proven model. Our results since 2023, achieved through strategic collaborations with GIZ and FAO, demonstrate our technical robustness and management rigor:
Forest Restoration: 25,000 indigenous trees successfully planted.
Ecological Rehabilitation: 150 hectares of degraded land restored.
Human Capital: 250 women and youth trained in agroforestry and local governance.
Social Impact: 1,200 households actively engaged in sustainable practices.
Infrastructure: 3 community nurseries established and co-managed by joint committees.
Conflict Resolution: 20 major intercommunal and land-related conflicts successfully resolved through mediation.
1.3. Scaling-Up Ambition (1-Year Roadmap)
Building on our experience with international agencies, ARCI is now deploying a systemic strategy for the Ituri region:
Land Tenure Security: Implementation of "living boundaries" (bornage vivant)—using tree species to physically and legally demarcate land, validating usage contracts, and stabilizing populations.
Permanent Mediation: Deployment of 12 Community Animators (our "Green Helmets") to proactively resolve intercommunal and land-use conflicts.
Sustainable Prosperity: Scaling our green economy initiatives (coffee, honey, fruit production) to ensure that peace is more profitable than conflict. By creating viable value chains, we turn local ecosystems into pillars of socio-economic stability.
Conseils pour votre candidature :
Sur le "Bornage Vivant" : Dans vos futures réponses, n'hésitez pas à souligner que cette technique est à la fois une solution écologique (reforestation) et juridique (preuve de propriété), ce qui est extrêmement apprécié par les bailleurs.
Sur les "Casques Verts" (Green Helmets) : C'est une excellente terminologie. Elle donne une image forte, sécurisante et professionnelle à votre équipe de médiateurs.
Sur la rentabilité de la paix : L'idée que "la paix est plus rentable que le conflit" est un argument très puissant pour les investisseurs axés sur le développement durable.
Project updates
Team
Living boundaries: restoring Ituri's forests and peace
Actions pour le Développement et l'Entrepreneuriat (ADE-ClimaTerra-RDC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental resilience and socio-economic empowerment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Under the leadership of Idriss Balemba Bagalwa, we mobilize local communities, notably through OREMU, to restore degraded ecosystems through community-led agroforestry. Our multidisciplinary team combines technical expertise with deep field knowledge: Darius Kulondwa and Raïssa Sifa Kasongo lead our programs, while Etienne Mulindwa supervises operations and Agathe Cinja ensures rigorous monitoring and evaluation (MEAL). Together, we integrate ancestral knowledge, satellite data, and artificial intelligence to transform landscapes in Ituri and South Kivu, putting people at the heart of the ecological transition.
Project story
The ARCI project is not an experiment; it is the scaling-up of a proven model. Our results since 2023, achieved through strategic collaborations with GIZ and FAO, demonstrate our technical robustness and management rigor:
Forest Restoration: 25,000 indigenous trees successfully planted.
Ecological Rehabilitation: 150 hectares of degraded land restored.
Human Capital: 250 women and youth trained in agroforestry and local governance.
Social Impact: 1,200 households actively engaged in sustainable practices.
Infrastructure: 3 community nurseries established and co-managed by joint committees.
Conflict Resolution: 20 major intercommunal and land-related conflicts successfully resolved through mediation.
1.3. Scaling-Up Ambition (1-Year Roadmap)
Building on our experience with international agencies, ARCI is now deploying a systemic strategy for the Ituri region:
Land Tenure Security: Implementation of "living boundaries" (bornage vivant)—using tree species to physically and legally demarcate land, validating usage contracts, and stabilizing populations.
Permanent Mediation: Deployment of 12 Community Animators (our "Green Helmets") to proactively resolve intercommunal and land-use conflicts.
Sustainable Prosperity: Scaling our green economy initiatives (coffee, honey, fruit production) to ensure that peace is more profitable than conflict. By creating viable value chains, we turn local ecosystems into pillars of socio-economic stability.
Conseils pour votre candidature :
Sur le "Bornage Vivant" : Dans vos futures réponses, n'hésitez pas à souligner que cette technique est à la fois une solution écologique (reforestation) et juridique (preuve de propriété), ce qui est extrêmement apprécié par les bailleurs.
Sur les "Casques Verts" (Green Helmets) : C'est une excellente terminologie. Elle donne une image forte, sécurisante et professionnelle à votre équipe de médiateurs.
Sur la rentabilité de la paix : L'idée que "la paix est plus rentable que le conflit" est un argument très puissant pour les investisseurs axés sur le développement durable.
Project updates
Team
Location
Congo - Kinshasa