{"id":49260,"date":"2026-05-18T13:54:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T13:54:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adra.org\/?p=49260"},"modified":"2026-05-18T13:54:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T13:54:09","slug":"paulo-lopes-in-drc-a-mission-highlighting-tangible-achievements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adra.org\/pt\/paulo-lopes-in-drc-a-mission-highlighting-tangible-achievements","title":{"rendered":"Paulo Lopes in DRC: A Mission Highlighting Tangible Achievements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>From April 21 to 30, 2026, the President of ADRA International, Paulo Lopes, accompanied by Africa Regional Director Geoffrey Mbwana and Africa Regional Finance Director Dibden Chileya, conducted a working visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo.&nbsp;Over ten days, ADRA reaffirmed its determination to act on two essential fronts: humanitarian aid and development, for the benefit of the most vulnerable communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Strengthened Institutional Dialogue to Amplify Humanitarian Impact<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To maximize the effectiveness of humanitarian actions, Lopes met with the Humanitarian Coordinator of OCHA, Bruno Lemarquis, as well as several senior Congolese authorities: Her Excellency Th\u00e9r\u00e8se Kayikwamba Wagner, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Her Excellency \u00c8ve Bazaiba, Minister of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Actions and National Solidarity; and His Excellency Muhindo Nzangi, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PHOTO-2026-05-06-17-00-16-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"Group of diverse professionals at ADRA International event in front of a blue backdrop.\" class=\"wp-image-49262\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PHOTO-2026-05-06-17-00-16-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PHOTO-2026-05-06-17-00-16-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PHOTO-2026-05-06-17-00-16-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PHOTO-2026-05-06-17-00-16-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PHOTO-2026-05-06-17-00-16.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">ADRA International President, Paulo Lopes, meets with DRC government officials while visits ADRA projects in the country. [Photo Credit: Rudy Kimvuidi]<br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At the conclusion of these exchanges, Lopes expressed his deep gratitude for the continued support of the Congolese government in implementing ADRA\u2019s projects. He also encouraged stronger mobilization from the government ministries and the Presidency to advance&nbsp;advocacy with international donors, in support of maintaining and increasing humanitarian funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These meetings resulted in commitments of support and renewed engagement in advocacy with financial partners. The mission helped consolidate institutional cooperation and opened the way for strengthened support for ADRA\u2019s initiatives. At the Presidency of&nbsp;the Republic, Lopes was received by the Chief Advisor to the Head of State in the College of Planning, Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock, who pledged to convey this advocacy directly to the President of the DRC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>TUDIENZELE in Tshikapa: Tangible Outcomes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The mission continued with a field visit to the TUDIENZELE project, funded by the U.S. government and implemented by a consortium led by ADRA. TUDIENZELE aims to sustainably improve food security, nutrition, and the economic well-being of vulnerable households.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the Kamonia health zone, Lopes observed the progress of a bridge under construction on a rehabilitated section of an agricultural service road linking Kamonia to Muamba. On site, the mission also highlighted the work of agricultural and fish farming producer organizations, which strengthen production, marketing, and access to resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ADRA_VISITDRC_PAULO_PDTDSC_9094-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Building a community water project with ADRA International in a rural area.\" class=\"wp-image-49263\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ADRA_VISITDRC_PAULO_PDTDSC_9094-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ADRA_VISITDRC_PAULO_PDTDSC_9094-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ADRA_VISITDRC_PAULO_PDTDSC_9094-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ADRA_VISITDRC_PAULO_PDTDSC_9094-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ADRA_VISITDRC_PAULO_PDTDSC_9094-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ADRA_VISITDRC_PAULO_PDTDSC_9094-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">ADRA International President, Paul Lopes, visits the TUDIENZELE project in DRC. <br>[Photo Credit: Rudy Kimvuidi]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This ambitious program, targeting nearly one million participants, operates on several fronts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Financial inclusion: creation of 2,000 VSLA groups and deployment of agricultural credit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Productivity: establishment of 875 Farmer Field Schools, provision of quality seeds, and dissemination of resilient agricultural practices<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Market access: rehabilitation of 150 km of agricultural roads, construction of markets, and training of entrepreneurs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nutrition: promotion of good practices through 320 Care Groups<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water and sanitation: construction or rehabilitation of 93 water points and implementation of Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) in 600 villages<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ADRA_VISITDRC_PAULO_PDTDSC_8894-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Community members gather near a water source in a rural area for water access and sanitation efforts.\" class=\"wp-image-49264\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ADRA_VISITDRC_PAULO_PDTDSC_8894-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ADRA_VISITDRC_PAULO_PDTDSC_8894-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ADRA_VISITDRC_PAULO_PDTDSC_8894-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ADRA_VISITDRC_PAULO_PDTDSC_8894-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ADRA_VISITDRC_PAULO_PDTDSC_8894-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ADRA_VISITDRC_PAULO_PDTDSC_8894-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Local community members participate in water access project organized by ADRA International in a rural setting.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ADRA in DRC: 40 Years of Action, 12.5 Million Lives Changed<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Present in 120 countries, ADRA has been active in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 1984. The organization\u2019s mission is to break the cycle of poverty and vulnerability. Its programs have already benefited 12.5 million people through interventions in health, WASH (water, hygiene and sanitation), food security and agriculture, as well as financial inclusion and education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond these results, ADRA relies on a robust management structure that ensures full transparency to donors and efficiency in project implementation. Its work spans 11 key provinces: Kinshasa, Kasa\u00ef, North Kivu, South Kivu, Tanganyika, Haut-Katanga, Kongo-Central, \u00c9quateur, Tshopo, Lualaba, and Tshuapa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through this mission, the organization continues to uphold a fundamental commitment to strengthening the dignity of vulnerable people and building sustainable solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A Key Step for the Future of ADRA\u2019s Interventions in DRC<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the end of the mission, the visit of Paulo Lopes stands out as a crucial step in assessing the effectiveness of interventions, strengthening coordination, and shaping future directions in the DRC. A strong determination emerges to make field results more visible and sustainable, and to continue working with partners and authorities to build solutions adapted to the real needs of communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Author: Amimou Kalemera<\/em>, Communication and Media Coordinator, ADRA DRC<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From April 21 to 30, 2026, the President of ADRA International, Paulo Lopes, accompanied by Africa Regional Director Geoffrey Mbwana and Africa Regional Finance Director Dibden Chileya, conducted a working visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo.\u00a0Over ten days, ADRA reaffirmed its determination to act on two essential fronts: humanitarian aid and development, for the benefit of the most vulnerable communities.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":46,"featured_media":49261,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[785,42,807,766,778,828,589,614,336],"tags":[1222,1221,1219,1220,761,1016,1216],"class_list":["post-49260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-africa","category-agriculture","category-dr-congo","category-featured-homepage","category-featured-news-stories","category-in-the-field","category-livelihoods","category-news","category-wash","tag-africa-region","tag-agriculture","tag-drc","tag-livelihoods","tag-paulo-lopes","tag-tudienzele-project","tag-wash"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adra.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adra.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adra.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adra.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/46"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adra.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49260"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/adra.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49265,"href":"https:\/\/adra.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49260\/revisions\/49265"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adra.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adra.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adra.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adra.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}