DR Congo: Tamlyn, US Ambassador visits World Vision's activities in partnership with UNHCR in North Ubangi

By Didier Nagifi, Communications Officer

North Ubangi recently hosted a high-level delegation led by the US Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lucy Tamlyn, accompanied by representatives from the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) and USAID. The visit aimed to assess the impact of interventions carried out on behalf of Central African refugees by the UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies receiving USG funding, including World Vision. The visit began with a meeting with refugee farmers' cooperatives and host communities in the Inke refugee camp. These cooperatives are participating in an agricultural programme to boost their food security and empower them.

‘This cassava field is an inspiring example of refugees and host communities working together to ensure food security. Thanks to World Vision, these farmers are building a more stable and prosperous future for their families’, said Lucy Tamlyn, US Ambassador to the DRC.

The delegation then visited a restaurant in the Inke camp run by women supported by World Vision, which plays a crucial role in the economic empowerment of refugee women. Here, the women testified to the impact of US aid in improving their businesses. 

‘We used to work scattered, but now, as a group, we can work more efficiently to feed our children well. We used to lack a lot of essential equipment: saucepans, cooking utensils, a freezer, etc. Thanks to the support of World Vision and UNHCR, we now have access to all this. This restaurant provides meals for refugees and humanitarian workers in the camp. We are deeply grateful for this support, which improves our daily lives’, says Joséphine, a member of the restaurant's management team. 

Pleased with the progress made by these women, the ambassador said: ‘This restaurant shows the importance of economic empowerment. These women are not only feeding their families, they are building a bright future for the whole community.’

The delegation then visited the Village Pôle de Développement (VPD) in Nzakara, where an integrated development project is underway. Funded by the UNHCR and the US Government, the project aims to build essential infrastructure and create economic opportunities for refugees and host communities. The Ambassador underlined the importance of these initiatives during her meeting with Mr Joseph Gbabenge KESENGE, traditional chief of Nzakara.

The highlight of the visit was the laying of the foundation stone for a bakery, a project that promises economic opportunities for the community.

‘By laying this foundation stone, we are opening up a new opportunity for the refugees and host communities of Nzakara. This bakery will symbolise resilience and collaboration between nations’, she said.

Vidan Hadzi-Vidanovic, Program Analyst for the PRM representative visiting North and South Ubangi, explained that: 

‘After two weeks on the ground in North and South Ubangi, I have witnessed World Vision's impressive achievements. Although challenges remain, particularly about road infrastructure, your efforts to support refugees and local populations are admirable.’  

The visit highlighted the transformative impact of World Vision's initiatives in various sectors in partnership with UNHCR, demonstrating the importance of continued international support to improve living conditions in North Ubangi. The commitment of local and international actors is essential to build a sustainable future for all by investing in the education of the youngest. 

‘I was moved by the mothers' commitment to giving their daughters a chance to learn. It's inspiring to see young girls seizing these opportunities to build a better future. It reflects a determination to build a new generation that is resilient and fulfilled’, Ambassador Tamlyn told the refugee girls.

This visit truly underlined the positive impact of World Vision's actions in supporting refugees and their host communities, reinforcing the importance of solidarity and sustainable development in the region.

'Improving Wash conditions, economic well-being and social cohesion among refugees and host communities in the North and South Ubangi provinces of the DRC’ is the name of one of the projects visited, and it has 7,477 participants, the majority of whom are Central African refugees, representing 17,245 households. The Livelihoods component has 1,000 participants, made up of 478 men and 522 women, including 800 refugees and 200 women.