scholarly journals Operational and procedural integrity of elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo

2020 ◽  
pp. 52-65
Author(s):  
Tadjoudine Ali-Diabacté
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Economic Community ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Francophone Africa ◽  
International Media ◽  
Procedural Integrity ◽  
Electoral Cycles

Malpractice has affected the integrity of elections in the DRC in its three recent democratic electoral cycles: 2006, 2011, and 2018, particularly the last cycle. However, even though national and international media indicate that the degree of threats to electoral integrity is more critical in the DRC than the rest of Africa, the problems in the DRC are similar to those encountered in the rest of the continent. Moreover, in terms of election integrity the DRC may be better rated than many other African countries. This is particularly true of francophone Africa, as well as the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to which the DRC belongs. There are many good lessons learned from recent elections in the DRC which could inspire electoral authorities elsewhere in Africa and thus contribute to improving electoral integrity on the continent.

Creative Reconstruction: A Systematic Approach to Reinventing Large Cities in Democratic Republic of Congo

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1485-1497
Author(s):  
Mia Nsokimieno Misilu Eric
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Capital City ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Large Cities ◽  
Current State ◽  
Legacy Cities

The current state of large cities in Democratic Republic of Congo highlights the necessity of reinventing cities. More than fifty years after the independence, these major cities, like Kinshasa the capital city, are in a state of are in a state of disrepair. They are damaged, dysfunctional, and more vulnerable. Today, these legacy cities do not meet the international requirements of livable cities. Democratic Republic of Congo faces the challenge of rebuilding its cities for sustainability. The movement for independence of African countries enabled the shift from colonial cities to legacy cities. It is important to understand the cultural and ideological foundations of colonial city. Commonly, colonial cities served as purpose-built settlements for the extraction and transport of mineral resources toward Europe. What's required is a creative reconstruction to achieve a desired successful urban change. Creative reconstruction tends to ensure urban transformation in relation with urbanization, by making continuous and healthy communities. Creative reconstruction seems appropriate way of building back cities in harmony with cultural values. The article provides a framework for urban regeneration. The study is based on principle of thinking globally and acting locally in building back better cities.

scholarly journals Establishing a postgraduate programme in nutritional epidemiology to strengthen resource capacity, academic leadership and research in the democratic republic of Congo

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mapatano Mala Ali ◽  
Lyn Haskins ◽  
Vaughn John ◽  
Anne Hatløy ◽  
Silondile Luthuli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Academic Leadership ◽  
Nutritional Epidemiology ◽  
Rural Site ◽  
Educational Approach ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Health And Nutrition

Abstract Background Low- and Middle-income countries (LMIC) face considerable health and nutrition challenges, many of which can be addressed through strong academic leadership and robust research translated into evidence-based practice. A North-South-South partnership between three universities was established to implement a master’s programme in nutritional epidemiology at the Kinshasa School of Public Health (KSPH), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The partnership aimed to develop academic leadership and research capacity in the field of nutrition in the DRC. In this article we describe the educational approach and processes used, and discuss successes, challenges, and lessons learned. Methods Self-administered questionnaires, which included both open and closed questions, were sent to all graduates and students on the master’s programme to explore students’ experiences and perceptions of all aspects of the educational programme. Quantitative data was analysed using frequencies, and a thematic approach was used to analyse responses to open-ended questions. Results A two-year master’s programme in Nutritional Epidemiology was established in 2014, and 40 students had graduated by 2020. Key elements included using principles of authentic learning, deployment of students for an internship at a rural residential research site, and support of selected students with bursaries. Academic staff from all partner universities participated in teaching and research supervision. The curriculum and teaching approach were well received by most students, although a number of challenges were identified. Most students reported benefits from the rural internship experience but were challenged by the isolation of the rural site, and felt unsupported by their supervisors, undermining students’ experiences and potentially the quality of the research. Financial barriers were also reported as challenges by students, even among those who received bursaries. Conclusion The partnership was successful in establishing a Master Programme in Nutritional Epidemiology increasing the number of nutrition researchers in the DRC. This approach could be used in other LMIC settings to address health and nutrition challenges.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Cost of Production of Fish Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822 (Siluriformes, Clariidae) with Three Types of Food Based on Local Agricultural by-products in the Democratic Republic of Congo

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. p205
Author(s):  
Victor Pwema Kiamfu ◽  
Alex Mayoni Matondo ◽  
Santos Kavumbu Mutanda ◽  
Clément Munganga Kilingwa ◽  
Nadine Bipendu Muamba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Agricultural Waste ◽  
Clarias Gariepinus ◽  
Fish Growth ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
The One ◽  
By Products

Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822 is a catfish with high commercial value in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in several African countries. The breeding of this species is controlled, but Congolese fish farmers are confronted with the problem of a lack of compound feed in the form of granules. The recovery of local agricultural waste would be essential to fill this gap. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of three types of food based on local agricultural by-products on the growth of C. gariepinus. The 25%, 41% and 51% crude protein feed formulas were tested in duplicate for 96 days. Fry averaging 2.20±0.43 g were distributed in 6 closed-loop plastic containers. The fish were fed twice a day by hand. Weighing and measuring took place every 14 days. The results obtained show that the highest final average weight (g) and specific growth rate (%/d) (F = 2.87; p = 0.002) are obtained with food A1: 27.5±1.9 g and 0.25±0.15% /d respectively. It took 812.6 Congolese francs to develop food A1, 942.6 congolese francs to produce the A2 ration and 836.6 congolese francs to produce food A3. The A1 ration is the one that gave a better compromise in price and quality by promoting fish growth at a lower cost (3.827 congolese francs).

scholarly journals Developing strategies to attract, retain and support midwives in rural fragile settings: participatory workshops with health system stakeholders in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of Congo

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amuda Baba ◽  
Tim Martineau ◽  
Sally Theobald ◽  
Paluku Sabuni ◽  
Marie Muziakukwa Nobabo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Birth Attendants ◽  
Rural Settings ◽  
Attraction And Retention ◽  
Maternal And Newborn

Abstract Background Midwifery plays a vital role in the quality of care as well as rapid and sustained reductions in maternal and newborn mortality. Like most other sub-Saharan African countries, the Democratic Republic of Congo experiences shortages and inequitable distribution of health workers, particularly in rural areas and fragile settings. The aim of this study was to identify strategies that can help to attract, support and retain midwives in the fragile and rural Ituri province. Methods A qualitative participatory research design, through a workshop methodology, was used in this study. Participatory workshops were held in Bunia, Aru and Adja health districts in Ituri Province with provincial, district and facility managers, midwives and nurses, and non-governmental organisation, church medical coordination and nursing school representatives. In these workshops, data on the availability and distribution of midwives as well as their experiences in providing midwifery services were presented and discussed, followed by the development of strategies to attract, retain and support midwives. The workshops were digitally recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed using NVivo 12. Results The study revealed that participants acknowledged that most of the policies in relation to rural attraction and retention of health workers were not implemented, whilst a few have been partially put in place. Key strategies embedded in the realities of the rural fragile Ituri province were proposed, including organising midwifery training in nursing schools located in rural areas; recruiting students from rural areas; encouraging communities to use health services and thus generate more income; lobbying non-governmental organisations and churches to support the improvement of midwives’ living and working conditions; and integrating traditional birth attendants in health facilities. Contextual solutions were proposed to overcome challenges. Conclusion Midwives are key skilled birth attendants managing maternal and newborn healthcare in rural areas. Ensuring their availability through effective attraction and retention strategies is essential in fragile and rural settings. This participatory approach through a workshop methodology that engages different stakeholders and builds on available data, can promote learning health systems and develop pragmatic strategies for the attraction and retention of health workers in fragile remote and rural settings.

scholarly journals Lessons learned from the polio eradication initiative in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia: analysis of implementation barriers and strategies

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (S4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wakgari Deressa ◽  
Patrick Kayembe ◽  
Abigail H. Neel ◽  
Eric Mafuta ◽  
Assefa Seme ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Polio Eradication ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Health Programs ◽  
Implementation Barriers ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Republic Of Congo

Abstract Background Since its inception in 1988, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has partnered with 200 countries to vaccinate over 2.5 billion children against poliomyelitis. The polio eradication approach has adapted to emerging challenges and diverse contexts. Knowledge assets gained from these experiences can inform implementation of future health programs, but only if efforts are made to systematically map barriers, identify strategies to overcome them, identify unintended consequences, and compare experiences across country contexts. Methods A sequential explanatory mixed methods design, including an online survey followed by key informant interviews (KIIs), was utilized to map tacit knowledge derived from the polio eradication experience from 1988 to 2019. The survey and KIIs were conducted between September 2018 and March 2019. A cross-case comparison was conducted of two study countries, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Ethiopia, which fit similar epidemiological profiles for polio. The variables of interest (implementation barriers, strategies, unintended consequences) were compared for consistencies and inconsistencies within and across the two country cases. Results Surveys were conducted with 499 and 101 respondents, followed by 23 and 30 KIIs in the DRC and Ethiopia, respectively. Common implementation barriers included accessibility issues caused by political insecurity, population movement, and geography; gaps in human resources, supply chain, finance and governance; and community hesitancy. Strategies for addressing these barriers included adapting service delivery approaches, investing in health systems capacity, establishing mechanisms for planning and accountability, and social mobilization. These investments improved system infrastructure and service delivery; however, resources were often focused on the polio program rather than strengthening routine services, causing community mistrust and limiting sustainability. Conclusions The polio program investments in the DRC and Ethiopia facilitated program implementation despite environmental, system, and community-level barriers. There were, however, missed opportunities for integration. Remaining pockets of low immunization coverage and gaps in surveillance must be addressed in order to prevent importation of wild poliovirus and minimize circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus. Studying these implementation processes is critical for informing future health programs, including identifying implementation tools, strategies, and principles which can be adopted from polio eradication to ensure health service delivery among hard-to-reach populations. Future disease control or eradication programs should also consider strategies which reduce parallel structures and define a clear transition strategy to limit long-term external dependency.

scholarly journals Etude de la néologie terminologique en Bantu: cas de la cilubalisation des termes français des équipements et matériels de bureau

Afrika Focus ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilbert Kadima Batumona Adi
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Word Processing ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Equipment And Supplies ◽  
Modern Culture ◽  
Western Countries ◽  
Office Equipment

The Democratic Republic of Congo, like many African countries, has an important public and private administration, but one whose performance and productivity are generally considered to be low. Numerous efforts to modernize and improve the productivity of this administration have been made, notably by recourse to modern office equipment and supplies. In this doctoral study we label the equipment and supplies under the denomination of western technologies which signals their provenance. A close examination of the documents which catalogue and describe the functioning of these technologies, reveals that the overwhelming majority of these documents are written in either French or in English. In other words, the western technologies which are used in the Congolese public administration are denominated in the idioms of theirs designers and their operations are described in the same idioms. These technologies which range from simple to sophisticated tools (equipment for word processing or for electronic transmission of data) can be considered as the symbols of modern culture which generally is dominated by the western countries and some industrialized nations of Asia (Korea, Japan, Taiwan). The technologies are objects that are foreign to the cultures of Africa and the Congo. With regard to this situation, we argue that these imported western technologies must be localized when they arrive in African countries. To be localized means that the relevant documents be translated into the languages of the host countries in order to improve the efficiency with which the users are able to use the technologies. Our research demonstrates that when these imported technologies arrive in the Democratic Republic of Congo they are frequently under-utilized. This is because the occidental languages predominate in the operation documentation which are oriented for use within the social and legal contexts of western countries. Our analyses indicate that this under-utilization is essentially due to a terminological deficiency based on an assumption that the Congolese national languages are not sufficiently able to support the imported technologies. Our analyses also show that this assisted modernization of public administration in the Democratic Republic of Congo with the recourse to western technologies simultaneously poses organizational, economic and linguistic problems. Our conclusions not only point to operation difficulties but also to dif culties operators have nding the correct terms, which makes it more likely that items will be named in their own languages. It is in this context that we identify the link between economics and linguistics. From a linguistics position, the need of multilingual terminological research is clear, research that supports the users in the efforts to adapt their languages as languages of reception for these imported technologies. Eager to explore this eld in connection with the Bantu languages and cultures we began our research for the thesis. Our thesis is articulated around four following ac- tivities: (i) development of the nomenclature having to be used as a sample of the study; (ii) the globalization or the methodological route of the terminological appropriation of western technologies which are addressed by our research; (iii) the study of the denominating terms of the afore-mentioned technologies; (iv) the study of the mechanism of an apparatus with regard to technical terms in Ciluba. The four activities outlined above will be developed over a planned eight chapters which constitute our thesis. This approach provides the focus for our research objectives, all of which are informed by one overriding need: providing the ciluba with one specialized glossary of office equipment and supplies. Key words: Neology, terminology, translation, language planning, Bantu African languages, Ciluba, development of resourced languages, equipment and office supplies, applied linguistics 

scholarly journals Strengthening healthcare providers’ capacity for safe abortion and post-abortion care services in humanitarian settings: lessons learned from the clinical outreach refresher training model (S-CORT) in Uganda, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen Toan Tran ◽  
Alison Greer ◽  
Talemoh Dah ◽  
Bibiche Malilo ◽  
Bergson Kakule ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Safe Abortion ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Humanitarian Settings ◽  
Refresher Training ◽  
Hands On

Abstract Background Fragile and crisis-affected countries account for most maternal deaths worldwide, with unsafe abortion being one of its leading causes. This case study aims to describe the Clinical Outreach Refresher Training strategy for sexual and reproductive health (S-CORT) designed to update health providers’ competencies on uterine evacuation using both medications and manual vacuum aspiration. The paper also explores stakeholders’ experiences, recommendations for improvement, and lessons learned. Methods Using mixed methods, we evaluated three training workshops that piloted the uterine evacuation module in 2019 in humanitarian contexts of Uganda, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Results Results from the workshops converged to suggest that the module contributed to increasing participants’ theoretical knowledge and possibly technical and counseling skills. Equally noteworthy were their confidence building and positive attitudinal changes promoting a rights-based, fearless, non-judgmental, and non-discriminatory approach toward clients. Participants valued the hands-on, humanistic, and competency-based training methodology, although most regretted the short training duration and lack of practice on real clients. Recommendations to improve the capacity development continuum of uterine evacuation included recruiting the appropriate health cadres for the training; sharing printed pre-reading materials to all participants; sustaining the availability of medication and supplies to offer services to clients after the training; and helping staff through supportive supervision visits to accelerate skills transfer from training to clinic settings. Conclusions When the lack of skilled human resources is a barrier to lifesaving uterine evacuation services in humanitarian settings, the S-CORT strategy could offer a rapid hands-on refresher training opportunity for service providers needing an update in knowledge and skills. Such a capacity-building approach could be useful in humanitarian and fragile settings as well as in development settings with limited resources as part of an overall effort to strengthen other building blocks of the health system.

scholarly journals Target Gutahuka: The UN’s Strategic Information Intervention in the Democratic Republic of Congo

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-119
Author(s):  
Jacob Udo-Udo Jacob
Keyword(s):  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Positive Perception ◽  
Strategic Information ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
International Media ◽  
Media Intervention

This paper examines the nature and impacts of two information intervention radio programmes broadcast on Radio Okapi—the radio service of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A matched randomization technique was used to assign Rwandan Hutus and Congolese autochthons in South Kivu to listen to either of the two programmes within their naturalistic contexts for 13 months. At the end of the treatment, participants’ perceptions of barriers to peace; descriptive and prescriptive interventions; victimhood and villainity; opportunities for personal development and civic engagement; and knowledge of repatriation processes were assessed in 16 focus groups across four contexts. The study concludes that international media intervention programmes that provide robust information and a platform for objective analyses within a multiple narrative and participatory framework can enhance greater engagement with nascent democratic reforms, positive perception of long term opportunities for personal development and empathy with the ethnic Other.

scholarly journals Strengthening healthcare providers’ capacity for safe abortion and post-abortion care services in humanitarian settings: lessons learned from the clinical outreach refresher training model (S-CORT) in Uganda, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen Toan Tran ◽  
Alison Greer ◽  
Talemoh Dah ◽  
Bibiche Malilo ◽  
Bergson Kakule ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Safe Abortion ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Humanitarian Settings ◽  
Refresher Training ◽  
Hands On

Abstract Background – Fragile and crisis-affected countries account for most maternal deaths worldwide, with unsafe abortion being one of its leading causes. This case study aims to describe the Clinical Outreach Refresher Training strategy for sexual and reproductive health (S-CORT) designed to update health providers’ competencies on uterine evacuation using both medications and manual vacuum aspiration. The paper also explores stakeholders’ experiences, recommendations for improvement, and lessons learned.Methods – Using mixed methods, we evaluated three training workshops that piloted the uterine evacuation module in 2019 in humanitarian contexts of Uganda, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.Results – Results from the workshops converged to suggest that the module contributed to increasing participants’ theoretical knowledge and possibly technical and counseling skills. Equally noteworthy were their confidence building and positive attitudinal changes promoting a rights-based, fearless, non-judgmental, and non-discriminatory approach toward clients. Participants valued the hands-on, humanistic, and competency-based training methodology, although most regretted the short training duration and lack of practice on real clients. Recommendations to improve the capacity development continuum of uterine evacuation included recruiting the appropriate health cadres for the training; sharing printed pre-reading materials to all participants; sustaining the availability of medication and supplies to offer services to clients after the training; and helping staff through supportive supervision visits to accelerate skills transfer from training to clinic settings.Conclusions – When the lack of skilled human resources is a barrier to lifesaving uterine evacuation services in humanitarian settings, the S-CORT strategy could offer a rapid hands-on refresher training opportunity for service providers needing an update in knowledge and skills. Such a capacity-building approach could be useful in humanitarian and fragile settings as well as in development settings with limited resources as part of an overall effort to strengthen other building blocks of the health system.

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