“The DRC[ongo] is currently facing one of the most substantial displacement crises globally”- International Rescue Committe

We are raising funds to provide basic living supplies to our coffee partners in the DR Congo who have been displaced and are living in crisis.

Across the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) violent conflict and an ensuing humanitarian crisis has been growing since the beginning of 2024. Civilians continue to be caught in the middle, including coffee farmers from one of our longtime producer partners, Muungano Coffee Cooperative who provide coffee beans to our partner coffee roasters and who have participated in past On the Ground gender equity trainings.

Since the beginning of January the terrorist group, M23, has launched a full scale invasion against the government of the DRC at the expense of the Congolese people. This has resulted in nearly a million new refugees displaced by the violence, including 1,453 Muungano Cooperative farmers. Emergency action is needed immediately. 

M23 has taken over many important cities in the DRC including Goma and Minova where OTG has been based. The living conditions are incredibly poor and there has been an exponential increase in violent attacks on men, women, and children. 

The situation for our coffee partners in the DRC is dire. M23 has resorted to destroying refugee camps and is forcing refugees to return to their home communities. The proposal below from Herman is an effort to support our farmers who have already been displaced once before and are now being forced to return to their communities with nothing; as M23 destroyed or ransacked their homes. To support them, we would provide a “Return Home Kit” with basic supplies for survival, including hygiene kits, plastic sheeting to build temporary shelter, basic food supplies, cloth (for clothing), cooking supplies, and water jugs.

“MUUNGANO means “Togetherness” in Swahili. In 2009, 350 founding members came together and founded the Muungano Coffee Cooperative in eastern DR Congo. Located on the slopes near the shores of Lake Kivu, this coop today has over 4,100 farmers investing in coffee and their communities. Muungano members live in different communities that were divided by the civil war. However, these dedicated coffee farmers made the choice to combine their strengths in order to build a great future for their communities. They work hard every day to produce high quality coffee for coffee lovers’ everywhere in the world.” (Muungano Fair Trade Coffee Cooperative)

As one of our partner roasters, Higher Grounds Trading, explains, we care about the farmers who produce the coffee we enjoy every day.

Will you partner with On the Ground to support our farmers in the DRC?