Lualaba Field Missions in the DRC Boost Community Centered Research and Key Partnerships

GeoRes4Dev closed 2024 with two productive missions across the DRC, reinforcing collaborations and advancing research on how mining affects water resources in Lualaba. Led by Prof. Bossissi Nkuba, the missions connected the team with partners in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Kolwezi, and Goma, ensuring strong institutional support for the project’s next steps.
A central focus was the progress of the GeoRes4Dev-funded PhD by Israel Muchiza Bachinyaga, which examines how communities perceive the degradation of their water resources. Through interviews, focus groups, and a large scale survey, Israel is documenting how residents experience changes in water quality and access around mining sites.
Because of this community-oriented approach, strategic conversations held by Bossissi with REGIDESO, the Agence Congolaise de l’Environnement (ACE) in both Kinshasa and Kolwezi, and the Health Division of Kolwezi have become essential. These dialogues help align community testimonies with institutional perspectives—creating a clearer picture of the pressures facing local water systems.
In Kolwezi, field visits to seven villages yielded key insights into water sources, mining activities, and environmental conditions. At UTL, the team engaged more than 100 students and academics in an energetic session presenting GeoRes4Dev’s goals and opportunities.
With deeper partnerships and a solid foundation for community driven research, GeoRes4Dev enters 2025 ready to deliver sharper insights and stronger collaboration for sustainable resource governance in the DRC.