In 2000, urban areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo were in crisis due to rapid growth, unplanned settlement, and poor management of public services, prompting a call for the CDM-led USAID/Environmental Health Project team to launch pilot sanitation and hygiene projects in three urban settings. Objectives of the projects included: in Kinshasa, reduction of public health hazards by improving sanitation; in Kananga, reduction of morbidity and mortality caused by water-borne diseases; and in Barumbu, reduction of diarrheal diseases by working to eliminate vectors found in the environment and identify and test techniques to address urban environmental health problems. Among many successes, the project resulted in construction of sanitation units and water distribution points connected to municipal water supply in Kinshasa, construction and protection of 76 accessible clean water sources in Kananga, and a significant increase in hygiene behaviors in the Barumbu area. The project also trained community educators to promote hygiene education.
CLIENT: USAID Global Health Bureau, USAID/DRC Mission
LOCATION: Democratic Republic of Congo