Congolese communities choose resilience everyday.
Through impactful funding, a pioneering social enterprise, and strategic advocacy, we drive policy change, increased attention, and lasting change to support their work.
Impactful, Collaborative Funding.
When ECI started, no one would fund local organizations or invest in Congolese startups. Over 50 non-profit partners and 120 startups later, we have proven that localization works. Today, we directly fund projects in North and South Kivu focused on women’s empowerment and economic development.
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Beekeepers in Kalehe install a new hive as part of a large cooperative expansion and technical clinics. (2023 Partner) Photo: Pacome Bagula
700 fisherwomen in Katana are growing their cooperative and fighting malnutrition. (2024 Partner) Photo: Sarah Kangendo
Bing Ecological, a rapidly growing partner, turns organic compost into a clean burning charcoal alternative. (2023 Partner) Photo: Jonathan Kabahe
As a medical student, Alfred Chasumba saw the effects of malnutrition, and developed his cereal mixture as a nutrient-dense preventative product. (2023 Partner) Photo: Pacome Bagula
NTC is an engineering and construction company that's grown to over 85 permanent staff. (Incubation Partner) Photo: Jonas Katabazi
No one should rely on rotating cycles of temporary aid.
Meet Asili.
We met with mothers in South Kivu to tackle their top priority: survival for children under five. What developed from those initial meetings is a holistic approach through a social enterprise called Asili.
Asili provides high quality essential services like clean water, primary healthcare, and renewable energy at a rate that 95% of the community can afford. By charging a small amount, the enterprise works toward self-sustainability–and most importantly–changes beneficiaries to customers. This shift in power dynamics raises expectations, and opens doors to new, growing possibilities.
See how Asili is building a new way to approach aid
In Mudaka, the Asili water kiosk has propelled the market to two days per week with washed produce and prepared food. Photo: Jon Atwell
2024 marks Asili's 10th year. In Buhanga, these children have always had clean water. Photo: Michel Lunanga
Advanced diagnostic labs were added in 2023 to better identify and treat our patients. Photo: Pacome Bagula
Dr. Ange hosts an open house, highlighting that Asili prices are painted on the wall to ensure transparency. Photo: Pacome Bagula
Asili clinics are known for their professionalism, cleanliness, and beautiful gardens–used by the community for wedding photos and gatherings. Photo: Sarah Kangendo
Local change requires global support.
Our advocacy promotes improved policy and implementation practices and catalyzes investments in lasting change. By pairing experience, scholarly research, and authentic voices from eastern Congo, we promote Congolese-led solutions and advocate for their advancement.
Engaging governments as well as the private sector through policy briefings, testimony, meetings, learning tours, published reports, and social media allows us to fill the information gap surrounding eastern DRC.
The issues are complex, and discourage many Congo observers from becoming Congo advocates. We challenge you to join us, and see the abundance that is eastern Congo.
A gallery exhibit in Goma, done in collaboration with photography nonprofit Lens on Life, highlights economic development and entrepreneurship growth in the Kivus.
Nespresso CEO Guillaume Le Cunff and ECI Board Chair Ben Affleck share Nespresso's Kahawa Ya Congo coffee with the farmers who grew it. Photo: Gerry Kahashy
Musicians perform during ECI's Prevention of Violence Against Women programming. Incorporating art, music, and comedy made the program more approachable and invited healthy community discussion. Photo: Pacome Bagula
Chair Ben Affleck is joined by Cindy McCain and Dr. Denis Mukwege at the U.S. Senate foreign Relations Committee Hearing. Photo: Barb Kinney