France pledged to support the French Red Cross project which attempts to tackle the root causes of malnutrition in Democratic Republic of the Congo

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The French Ambassador to the DRC, François Pujolas handing over the Convention signed with the French Red Cross/DRC Representative, 
Thibaud Saint Sébastien, aiming to tackle the root causes of malnutrition in DRC

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the countries most affected by food insecurity. 

The last IPC analysis identified 22 million Congolese in a situation of acute food insecurity, which is 6 million more than in 2019.

Considering the share of the population surveyed, it is about a third of the Congolese population who would be affected.

Nutrition is therefore a major public health problem in the DRC: the prevalence of delayed growth stands at 42% and the prevalence of acute malnutrition reaches 6.5% according to survey data MICS 2018 (UNICEF). Over 35% of the causes of death among children under 5 are directly or indirectly related to malnutrition.
 
In addition to these health aspects, malnutrition represents a real obstacle to development social and economic conditions of the DRC, the cognitive capacities of children who have suffered from malnutrition are impaired irreversibly.

This Friday, October 11, France pledged to support the French Red Cross project which attempts to tackle the root causes of malnutrition: difficulties in accessing land, feeding practices disadvantaging children and women, or gender inequalities and overwork for women. 

The actions will aim to improve agricultural practices (more efficient seeds and practices, diversification of productions) and nutritious (food diversification, exclusive breastfeeding, good hygiene practices and preparation of meals, preparation techniques, etc.), while taking into consideration any barriers socio-cultural.

The French Ambassador to the DRC, François Pujolas, welcomed the signing of this convention which completes the substantial financial commitment of France through various projects implemented by different partners, including WFP, recipient of the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize.

As for the project with the French Red Cross, the ambassador said that he will bring to the affected rural areas (Kwango province), durable solutions likely to be replicated elsewhere in the DRC.

"Through very concrete help, as close as possible to in the field, this project will put all the chances of success on its side by closely involving the communities village women directly concerned" he added.
 
Validated at the start of 2020 for an amount of € 510,000, this project will be launched in December 2020 to adhere as best as possible to the agricultural calendar, after an implementation postponement linked to the Covid-19 epidemic.

Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Editor

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