In regions where access to essential resources shapes the lives of entire communities, organizations like On The Ground Global (OTG) serve as pillars of hope. Dedicated to empowering marginalized populations through sustainable development, OTG has impacted communities around the globe.
OTG's ongoing work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), focuses on sustainable agriculture, gender equity, and disaster relief.
Why the Democratic Republic of Congo?
The DRC is one of the most resource-rich nations globally, boasting vast mineral reserves and fertile lands. Despite this abundance, millions in the DRC face poverty, food insecurity, and limited access to education. Decades of conflict and natural disasters have further destabilized the region. Recognizing these pressing challenges, OTG works to build resilient, self-sufficient communities through programs that address systemic inequalities.
Key Initiatives in the DRC: Gender Equity
Gender Equity and Women's Empowerment
412 participants—225 women and 187 men—engaged in OTG’s Gender Equity programs in 2024. These initiatives emphasize family collaboration, shared decision-making, and the equal treatment of boys and girls. OTG supports Gender Action Learning System (GALS) workshops to challenge harmful cultural norms by involving local chiefs and religious leaders in discussions about gender equity.
OTG’s Gender Equity work is structured around four key pillars:
- Literacy Courses for Women In the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), many women face barriers to literacy. OTG has addressed this challenge by sponsoring basic literacy and math courses tailored to the needs of women coffee farmers. These courses focus on financial literacy, including essential calculations for their work. Additional topics include breastfeeding, HIV/AIDS awareness, and the prevention of diseases such as water-borne illnesses, Ebola, COVID-19, and malaria.
- Savings and Micro-Lending Groups In the DRC, 25 million of the estimated 40 million adults lack access to formal financial services, with women disproportionately affected. OTG sponsors small savings and lending groups to address this gap. Women contribute small amounts of money to create a communal loan fund. Members can apply for loans, and the group collectively decides which applications to approve. Loans are repaid with a modest 5% interest, and at the end of the program, participants share the accumulated capital and interest proportionally, allowing the group to continue lending sustainably.
- Gender Action Learning System (GALS) Training The GALS methodology helps families create shared visions for the future, promotes gender equity, and ensures equitable decision-making. Training emphasizes raising children with equal opportunities, ensuring girls have the same access to inheritance and education as boys.
- Income-Generating Activities OTG supports training in trades such as soap-making, sewing, and stove manufacturing to help women coffee farmers diversify their income and build resilience against unpredictable challenges like climate change and conflict.
Disaster and Crisis Relief in the DRC
OTG also plays a critical role in responding to crises in the DRC, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the support they need in times of emergency.
| Offer Support to Refugees https://www.onthegroundglobal.org/2024-drc-refugee-farmers
At least one thousand members of the Muungano cooperative and their families have fled their homes in the face of M23 incursions and are now suffering with little to no food, water, cooking supplies, clothing, or materials to construct shelter. |
Emergency Response for Displaced Coffee Farmers
In 2024, OTG, in partnership with Coop Coffees, provided urgent support to 1,000 Muungano Cooperative farmers who were displaced by violent conflict. This assistance included food, water, cooking supplies, clothing, and shelter materials, addressing immediate needs and enabling these farmers to begin rebuilding their lives.
Flood Relief in South Kivu
When catastrophic floods devastated South Kivu in 2023, OTG mobilized resources to support coffee farming families. Relief efforts focused on providing medical care, shelter, clean water, and other necessities to those affected by the disaster.
Collaboration for Greater Impact
OTG’s success in the DRC relies on its commitment to partnership and community engagement. Working alongside local leaders, Coop Coffees, Higher Grounds Trading Co, cooperatives, and international organizations, OTG ensures its programs are culturally relevant, sustainable, and impactful.
From coffee farmers improving their yields to women entrepreneurs launching businesses, the stories from the DRC highlight the transformative power of OTG’s initiatives. Families once burdened by poverty now thrive, sending children to school and contributing to their communities.
How You Can Support On The Ground Global
Your contribution can help OTG expand its life-changing work in the DRC. Whether through donations, advocacy, or volunteering, there are many ways to get involved. Visit onthegroundglobal.org to learn more.