The Gender, Family and Child, Social Affairs, and Youth services of the Rwenzori Sector in Beni Territory, North Kivu, now have a new building designed to improve the quality of services provided to the local population.
Built with funding of US$49,000 from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), the infrastructure was constructed under a Quick Impact Project (QIP).
The official handover ceremony took place on Thursday, July 30, in Mutwanga, the administrative center of the Rwenzori Sector, in the presence of local authorities, MONUSCO representatives, heads of the beneficiary services, and members of civil society organizations.
A better working environment for public services
Constructed with the support of MONUSCO's Gender Section, the new building now brings together the Gender, Family and Child, Social Affairs, and Youth services under one roof. The aim is to enable these departments to carry out their responsibilities in more suitable conditions, particularly in supporting survivors of gender-based violence, protecting children, and empowering young people.
Before the project was implemented, these services operated from cramped offices shared with several other government departments. This situation limited their effectiveness and often compromised the confidentiality of interviews with beneficiaries.
According to Japhet Mapati, Chief of the Rwenzori Sector, the new infrastructure represents a significant step forward for the functioning of local public services.
"We are dealing with issues related to gender, child protection, and youth involvement in peacebuilding. It must be said that these three services had no proper place where they could work under good conditions," Mr. Mapati said during the ceremony.
The building includes several administrative offices as well as sanitary facilities, providing a safer and more functional working environment for government staff and service users.
A Space for women's voices and dialogue
Women's organizations in the sector welcomed the initiative, saying it addresses a long-standing need expressed by women in the region.
According to Antoinette Zawadi, head of the Collective of Women's Associations (CAF) in the Beni region, the previous facilities did not allow the services to carry out their work effectively.
"They were simply small wooden offices that did not enable the services to achieve their objectives. Now that we have a meeting room for women, it will allow them to meet and exchange ideas. Women in the Rwenzori Sector will finally have a place where they can express themselves," she said.
The new infrastructure provides a dedicated space for meetings, awareness-raising sessions, and community discussions on women's rights, social cohesion, and civic participation.
Beyond improving the working conditions of government services, the project reflects MONUSCO's commitment to strengthening local public institutions and enhancing grassroots governance.
Through this initiative, the Mission aims to contribute to better prevention of and response to gender-based violence, stronger protection for vulnerable children, and greater participation of women and young people in peacebuilding and community development initiatives.
Martial Mukeba wa Mukeba & Jean Tobie Okala
