Communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are Prioritizing Anticipatory Action to Bolster Health Resilience

2025 LOCAL ADAPTATION CHAMPIONS AWARD FINALIST

In the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the rainy season is no longer simply part of nature’s rhythm. Torrential downpours regularly swell rivers beyond their banks, trigger devastating landslides, and wash away fragile infrastructure. In South Kivu and Maniema, villages are cut off as roads dissolve into mud and bridges collapse from the surging waters. Families lose their homes in a matter of hours. Fields that once promised a harvest are drowned, leaving behind hunger instead of hope.

The human cost is staggering. Every year, thousands of households are pushed into crisis. Children are among the most vulnerable and when exposed to contaminated water, many fall ill with preventable diseases. Pregnant women struggle to reach health centers when paths become impassable, often with life-threatening consequences. Displaced families, already living with uncertainty, are among the first to feel the impacts of climate-related shocks, and the last to recover. For communities that already endure chronic poverty, conflict, and weak infrastructure, each storm deepens existing vulnerabilities.

Climate change is amplifying these risks. Floods are becoming more frequent, storms more violent, and the time to recover between disasters shorter. Traditional humanitarian aid often arrives only after the damage has been done. At this point, lives have already been lost, homes destroyed, and health systems overwhelmed. By then, the cycle of suffering is already in motion, forcing communities to start over again.

Local Community-Led Action Redefining Health Resilience in the Face of Disasters

Humanitarian Action for Africa’s (HAA) initiative was created to help shift from reactive emergency responses to anticipatory and community-led preparedness in the disaster-prone provinces of DRC. While seasonal floods and landslides once spelled inevitable disaster for provinces like South Kivu and Maniema in the past, HAA has introduced a practical approach that has placed their communities at the helm. It’s not only about saving property, but also about saving lives by placing health at the heart of its anticipatory action model.

Instead of waiting for international relief after catastrophe strikes, HAA equips villages to act before the worst happens. The organization trains local alert teams to recognize early warning signs and mobilize neighbors through radio announcements, megaphones, and even door-to-door visits. Working with traditional leaders, health workers, and women’s associations, HAA co-designs contingency plans that reflect each community’s unique vulnerabilities.

“This approach respects our reality. We decide together, we act locally,” says Amina, a villager from Salamabila in Maniema province. “It’s not experts coming from far away, but our own children and neighbors who are now trained. And we know that our voices matter."

HAA ensures that clinics and health posts are stocked with emergency kits before disasters hit. These supplies include first aid materials, hygiene items, and medicines for common illnesses. Community volunteers are trained in early warning messaging, conducting household preparedness check-ups and creating local awareness campaigns. Local health workers also receive training in disaster response, equipping them to manage emergencies in the critical first hours when outside help is still days away. Mobile communication tools helps strengthen coordination with health centers. HAA also provides psychosocial support sessions where people can unburden their trauma and receive counseling.

Health outcomes have improved. Before the initiative began, seasonal disasters in the region typically affected between 2,500 and 5,000 households every year. Since anticipatory action was put in place, the number of households impacted dropped dramatically. By protecting access to care and supporting mental wellbeing, HAA is closing the deadly gap between disaster and treatment, and ensuring that health is never an afterthought in disaster preparedness.

Building Strength Before the Storm

Beyond direct health outcomes, HAA’s inclusive approach strengthens the resilience of entire communities. By involving women, youth, displaced people, and marginalized households in every stage of planning and decision-making, HAA is strengthening social cohesion and giving voice to groups too often excluded from disaster response. The skills and confidence gained through participation in organizing evacuation drills, receiving continuous education on health risks, and leading awareness campaigns, are building leadership capacity that extends far beyond the rainy season.

HAA’s model is already being replicated across multiple territories in Maniema and South Kivu, each adapted to local risk profiles while maintaining the core principles of early warning, health preparedness, and inclusive leadership. Partnerships with provincial health divisions, local churches, youth networks, and international entities like the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and the Start Fund have amplified its reach and legitimacy.

By putting health at the center of preparedness, HAA is helping communities in South Kivu and Maniema face the rainy season with more confidence and fewer losses. Villagers themselves take charge of disaster preparedness and safeguarding the well-being of their communities. They see it as their own project, designed with their input, carried out by their neighbors, and aligned with their priorities. That shift, from waiting for help to taking action together, is what resilience truly looks like.