The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and in particular the province of South Kivu, faces major challenges.

socio-economic challenges arising from conflict, gender inequalities and a

high rates of gender-based violence (GBA) are caused. Women are particularly affected.

vulnerable to these challenges because they have limited access to education, employment and

have economic resources.

To counteract this difficult access to financial resources, the Associations were established.

Villageoises d'Epargne et de Crédit (AVEC) was founded to give women and girls the opportunity

to give, to improve their income and thus reduce financial risk.

Unfortunately, the conquest of the provinces of North and South Kivu by the AFC/M23 has led to a

led to an unprecedented security and humanitarian crisis.

In the panic of this war, people lost everything when they fled to the border countries of Rwanda.

Some fled to Burundi, others left their villages and fled to the city of Bukavu.

This has also led to the closure of banks and other microfinance institutions, which has impacted the

Access to financial resources is difficult. The village savings and credit associations, which

Supporting women who lack access to banks has a hard time securing their livelihoods.

to resume communal activities, since its members have lost everything. Before

Against this background, Youth for Peace DRC and its partner RAPRED-Girubuntu eV developed the TUNAWEZA project: to strengthen the socio-economic resilience of

Smallholder farmers' wives in the province of South Kivu.