IN BENI, THE P-DDRCS PROMOTES PEACE THROUGH CLIMATE-RESILIENT AGRICULTURE TRAINING FOR EX-COMBATANTS AND COMMUNITIES
From October 20 to 22, 2025, the provincial coordination of the P-DDRCS Nord-Kivu organized a training session in the city of Beni focused on Climate-Resilient Agriculture (CRA). This initiative is part of the ongoing socio-economic reintegration process for ex-combatants, under the RESET Project, implemented by a consortium led by Mercy Corps with financial support from DFID/UK.
The training brought together a total of 30 ex-combatants, including 12 women, as well as members of beneficiary communities, agricultural engineers and technicians from active local cooperatives, and representatives from public agricultural services. Over three days, participants took part in two days of theoretical instruction followed by a hands-on practical session conducted in a Farmer Field School (CEP).
The training was facilitated by Engineer Jonas Rwanika, Global Lead for the Food Security Section at Mercy Corps, who emphasized the importance of strengthening local capacities through a “train-the-trainer” approach. This method is designed to ensure the sustainable and autonomous transmission of improved agricultural practices within target communities.
Discussions covered the core principles of climate-resilient agriculture, including sustainable soil management, crop diversification, natural resource conservation, and the adaptation of farming systems to the impacts of climate change. The field session allowed participants to apply these techniques directly on-site, reinforcing the skills and knowledge acquired during the theoretical phase.
Beyond its technical dimension, the training fostered meaningful exchange between institutional, cooperative, and community stakeholders, reinforcing cohesion around sustainable agricultural practices. By equipping agricultural extension agents with appropriate tools and practical knowledge, the provincial coordination of the P-DDRCS, with the support of Mercy Corps, is advancing an approach to agriculture that is sustainable, inclusive, and peace-oriented in the Beni region.
This session forms part of the broader RESET Project, funded by Mercy Corps and implemented in both the city and the territory of Beni, aimed at supporting the reintegration and empowerment of ex-combatants and members of local communities.
P-DDRCS Communication Unit
