CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales

Democratic Republic of Congo

Kabuo Basugha, weeding her bean farm on a returnees project supported by CAFOD in Masisi Territory [Christophe Katembo, 2010]

A vast country roughly the size of Western Europe with immense mineral wealth and natural resources, the DRC is emerging from more than a decade of devastating civil war in which almost four million people died and as many as half a million women and girls have been victims of extreme sexual violence carried out by armed groups.

At a time when the eyes of the world were diverted elsewhere, the Catholic Church was the only structure capable of assuring a humanitarian safety net for the victims of violence, providing psychological support, medical services and access to justice for rape victims. As a result, we have mainly been working in partnership with Congolese Church structures at parish, diocesan and national levels.

With our partners we have been implementing large scale humanitarian and resettlement programmes in the east of the country as well as longer term social development programmes in the area of psycho-social trauma healing and rebuilding livelihoods. In addition, we also fund specific programmes around peace building and reconciliation, promoting more accountable and responsive governance to reduce poverty, and advocacy around natural resources.

CAFOD spent £2,759,000 in DR Congo in 2008/09

latest updates Rss Feed

Take action now: Open up the books!

On 20 February new laws are on the table to ensure companies open up their books - please help close the legal loopholes so that poor communities can benefit from the wealth beneath their feet. Please take action today.

Thousands of women in DRC have suffered sexual violence in the 50 years since independence.

From Poverty to Opportunity

Make a radical difference to the lives of the poorest of the poor

Congolese Bishops call for calm ahead of Democratic Republic of Congo elections

Millions of Congolese are voting in their country’s second elections in 40 years. A delegation of Catholic Congolese Bishops (CENCO) is calling on all candidates to keep the peace and when the result is known, to respect it, without turning to violence.

CAFOD response to new EU country-by-country proposals

Expert welcomes positive proposals, but voices concern about influence of possible industry lobbying.

Unearth Justice Update – Gold Mining

Many of you may have seen the recent Channel 4 Dispatches programme, ‘The Real Price of Gold’, and so we wanted to update you on our work in relation to mining and how you can help.

Published on 29/03/2006, last updated on 02/12/2010

I would like to give:

£35 £45 £60
other amount

Please support our vital work around the world - your money really makes a difference

special focus Rss Feed
Refugees gather at a makeshift camp near Kibati, 12 km north of the provincial capital of Goma, October 29, 2008 [REUTERS/Stringer, courtesy www.alertnet.org] Congo Crisis - latest updates

CAFOD partners are helping thousands of people suffering in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo due to a drastic deterioration of the humanitarian situation

Alfred Buju meets miners in the DRC Blogs from DRC

Just One World - the CAFOD blog

sign-up for e-news

All the latest news from CAFOD and new ways you can get involved. Sign up now

Privacy statement