DRC : To develop relevant strategies in a participatory manner aimed at its revitalization, the 5th National Forum of the Caritas Network launched

It was at the Caritas Welcome Center in Kinshasa that the 5th National Forum of the Network in the DRC was launched by Monsignor François Abeli, President of the Board of Directors of Caritas Congo Asbl. This fifth forum is placed under the theme:

“The Caritas Network in the Democratic Republic of Congo, more effective and more united to build resilient and thriving communities together.”

It will bring together for three days (from October 16 to 18, 2024) the Representatives of all the 48 diocesan Caritas-Development organizations in the DRC, as well as the technical and financial partners of the Caritas Internationalis network and the United Nations.

In his orientation speech, Mgr. the President, indicated that the objective of this forum is to allow all stakeholders, Members of the Network, to develop in a participatory manner relevant strategies aimed at revitalizing cooperation. responsible fraternal organization within the Network.

The President of the Board of Directors recalled that the Caritas DRC Network is a member of the Caritas Internationalis Confederation. This brings together 162 national organizations spread across more than 200 countries and territories, including 6 organizations taking part in the Forum. These are CAFOD (Caritas England and Wales), TROCAIRE (Caritas Ireland), CRS (Caritas USA), Caritas Italiana, Caritas Germany and Caritas Belgium. It is part of 46 Caritas which form Caritas Africa and counted among the 3 Caritas of the Countries which form the Caritas of the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa (ACEAC), also known as the Great Lakes Region of Africa.

The Executive Secretary of Caritas, Mr. Abbé Edouard Makimba, in his intervention during the opening ceremony of the Forum, indicated that this Forum is a framework for exchange and sharing of experiences and a means of peer learning in order to promote concrete actions to stem poverty in the DRC on the one hand, and on the other hand, to enable, in the medium and long term, the empowerment of local actors with regard to their responsibilities in building resilient communities.

He invited the participants to take a minute of silence in memory of Colleague Dieudonné Barhondeze Lushombo, Agent of Caritas Développement Bukavu, shot dead in cold blood on September 19, 2024 in the Territory of Kalehe, Province of South Kivu.

“I am convinced that our ecclesial communion and our solidarity will always remain a great bulwark in the face of the many challenges to be faced following various multi-sectoral crises which are shaking the world,” declared the Executive Secretary of Caritas Congo Asbl.

Several themes have been divided into three main themes and sub-themes which will be the subject of presentations and discussions by different speakers and participants throughout this Forum. More specifically, these are the following themes: challenges and issues of localization; of the Vision of the Executive Secretary to the Strategic Framework of Caritas Congo Asbl 2025-2027 and of Partnership and Networking within the Caritas Network in the DRC: a challenge for reflection and an issue for action.

The first presentation on localization as a tool for institutional and organizational change for better coordination of humanitarian actions and strengthening the effectiveness of interventions by national actors - analysis, challenges and perspectives, was presented by Ms. Liliane Bitong Ambassa, Representative of Caritas International Belgium.

For his part, Dr Jean Munongo, National Coordinator at the Health Promotion Service, maintained assistance on localization as a means to ensure access to universal health coverage and sustainably improve health outcomes – commitment by 2030.

It should be noted that the Director of Caritas Mahagi-Nioka who is taking part in this forum, will jointly with his CRS peers present on "the partnership within the Caritas network in the DRC in the light of identity and mission of Caritas.

Désiré Uwekmeno
 

Share this article