Réseau pour la Sécurité et la Souveraineté Alimentaire en République Démocratique du Congo (RESSAC)

The RESSAC (Réseau pour la Sécurité et la Souveraineté Alimentaire en République Démocratique du Congo - Network for Food Security and Sovereignty in the Democratic Republic of Congo) is a national platform for innovation and support for farmers' organizations. Its mission is to strengthen the capacities of farmers' cooperatives and organizations to facilitate the qualitative and quantitative increase of harvests, improve livelihoods, and promote and protect the rights of indigenous and local farmers in the context of climate change in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

RESSAC currently has 372 farmers' organizations representing 117,801 smallholder farmers, including 67,813 women and 47,360 young people, who are grouped and supported through 26 provincial coordination offices in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

RESSAC supports various types of small-scale agricultural producers, ranging from subsistence farmers to cash crop producers, including livestock farmers and fishers. These small-scale agricultural producers play a crucial role in food security and income diversification, but they also face challenges related to access to markets, resources, and technologies in the DRC. We offer small-scale agricultural producers a range of strategic services, including advocacy for improved agricultural policies, as well as other specific services to enhance their productivity, income, and food security. These services include agricultural extension, training, organic fertilizers, access to quality inputs, local infrastructure, and agricultural innovations and technologies in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

RESSAC works in partnership with the National Ministry of Agriculture, the provincial ministries of agriculture and the National Seed Service (SENASEM) in the DRC. RESSAC is also a member of several national, regional and international networks, namely: the World Farmers' Organization (WFO), IFOAM - Organics International, Agroecology Coalition, Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF), Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) and as well as other national and international partners.