In the Democratic Republic of Congo, AJWS supports social movements led by bold, young leaders fighting for democracy and peace. The DRC has been engulfed by corruption and conflict for decades — and while activists have made strides to build a safer and democratic country for all its citizens in recent years, violence, corruption and fraud still loom large. These issues have sparked national and regional youth movements across the country calling for greater government accountability and transparency. AJWS’s grantees in the DRC work to boost civic engagement and political awareness and advocate for transparent, free and fair elections.
AJWS also supports activists protecting rural communities’ land, water and resource rights, as many of the conflicts in the DRC have been exacerbated by disputes over natural resources. Large-scale, government sanctioned, industrial development projects — like the expansion of the Grand Inga dams — have displaced thousands of rural and Indigenous villagers, who have no access to the energy the dams produce. AJWS partners work to mobilize local people to take action, demanding their rights and access to clean energy.
