Advocacy

We believe that local, community-based approaches are the key to a successful society in eastern Congo.

We also believe that current aid structures aren’t working as effectively or efficiently as needed for communities to thrive.

If we are to see a shift in Congo’s self-sustainability, international power imbalances need to be addressed, the global commitment to localization must be prioritized, and equal-stake public-private partnerships must be encouraged and grow.

Objective 1: Promote implementation of localized funding

Founded to fund local organizations in eastern Congo, ECI has distributed over $10.5 million to 45 community organizations.

In 2020, the United States and other Grand Bargain signatories only designated an average of 2.1% of aid dollars to local actors. As these countries work to increase this to 25%, ECI is uniquely positioned to expose implementation barriers and build solutions.

A selection of current actions:

Collaborative research on correlation of local support and long-term success of WASH projects in South Kivu
Support with elected officials on effective international aid and the role of local organizations, community leaders, and businesses
Newest member of the Millennium Water Alliance, advocating for local water solution support

Objective 2: Improve support for economic development and collaborative private-sector engagement in the Kivus

We interviewed dozens of local organizations in 2021, seeking to better understand their communities needed most. The resounding answer: support for economic development.

If people have access to stabile income, their children go to school, they access health care, they can dream and build a better tomorrow.

Beyond our direct grants to entrepreneurs, ECI works to increase international companies investment in Congo with a focus on inclusive growth. To learn more about our work in strengthening markets, click here.

“The notion that inclusive ethical business practices somehow run counter to smart, profitable business practices is absolutely false”.

– ECI Co-Founder Ben Affleck

Featured Partners Include:

Nespresso

Produces Kahawa Ya Congo single origin coffee, is a current partner in the Gorilla Coffee Alliance, funded the Asili Medical Center and water system in the farming community of Minova

Theo Chocolate

Started purchasing their cacao in eastern DRC through a 2012 collaboration with ECI, now sources 100% of their cacao from North Kivu

Starbucks

Worked with farmers around Lake Kivu to sell a featured coffee for their Starbucks Reserve program, supported local response following natural disasters in 2022 and 2023