From chaos to success: A farmer in DRC builds a better future after conflict

At 31 years of age, Jean Ngoy wa Ngoy gives the impression of having lived twice as long, due to the difficulties he has experienced. He lives with his wife and four children in Kebembe, a farming village in Kalemie, Democratic Republic of Congo. In the past, as a simple cassava farmer, Jean was unable to feed and support his family, as his crops were never enough. 

In 2021, Pact and our partners launched the USAID-funded Tanganyika Conflict Mitigation and Reconciliation (TCMR) project, to promote social cohesion, build peace and improve food security and livelihoods. Jean joined the project and received quality seeds and small animals, including rabbits, chickens and guinea pigs, to expand his farm. 

The support came after a period of inter-community conflict between the Twa and the Bantu peoples in DRC's Tanganyika province, which caused a great deal of damage, including the loss of human life and the destruction of fields and homes. 

Jean recalls these sad events, which swept away everything he had in the way of valuables and small investments.

"We used to receive news of the clashes from afar, until they came to set our village ablaze and destroy everything we had built up over the years." 

Jean says Pact’s support was crucial to his recovery. He has worked hard, using new farming techniques and knowledge acquired through training provided by Pact through the TCMR project. He planted the seeds and took great care of his livestock. His efforts quickly bore fruit. Harvests were abundant and the animals multiplied.

Jean began to see significant changes in his life and that of his family. They now have access to sufficient, nutritious food and the financial means to help cover other vital needs. The sale of surplus farm produce and livestock has provided him with increased income.

"Before the project, I had enormous difficulties in living and in sending my children to school. Thanks to the TCMR project, I was able to improve my field and livestock production. Today my family is happy."

Over time, Jean saved enough money to realize a dream he'd never thought possible: to build a tin house. Before the project, he lived in a simple straw hut, vulnerable to the elements and pests. Today, his home is stronger and more comfortable in a village where many houses are still made of straw.

Jean continued to invest in his fields and livestock. He diversified his crops and improved his farming techniques for even more sustainable and profitable production. Today, Jean is not only a successful farmer, but also a respected man in his village and a role model. His success has encouraged his neighbors to take part in development projects and explore new economic opportunities. He plays an active role in local decision-making, helping to steer development initiatives toward solutions that benefit everyone.

"We still hear about the effectiveness of peace in our village and community development, thanks to the TCMR project and the door-to-door education and awareness-raising sessions on social cohesion and peaceful cohabitation that I organize for my community after being trained by Pact staff. The goats, chickens and other livestock you see in the village are also the result of my work as a leader trained by this project," Jean explains.

With his assets, Jean has created jobs and is occupying young people in a community where finding work to survive is very difficult; he often employs, periodically, a dozen individuals who work alongside him.

"Conflict, famine and a lack of resources are now a thing of the past," Jean says.