Our local partner: APM

À Portée de Mains (APM) is a locally rooted aid organisation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that has been supporting Burundian refugees in the Lusenda and Mulongwe camps in South Kivu province for several years. APM works in the fields of WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), education, women's empowerment and child protection, with a particular focus on participatory project work.

APM is led by Sango Shila, an activist from the region who knows the structural challenges on the ground first-hand. With a solution-oriented and transparent approach, he has built APM into a reliable partner for international NGOs and funding institutions.

The official government body responsible for managing refugee camps in the DR Congo, the Commission Nationale de Réfugiés (CNR), has explicitly recognised the joint work of APM and WeWater and now counts WeWater among the key actors in the WASH sector in the camps – at a time when many other WASH actors have left the region following the withdrawal of major international donors.

Phase 1: Getting started with six filters

In the first project phase, WeWater and APM installed 6 AQQAcube filters in the two camps – three in Lusenda and three in Mulongwe.

Preparation and site selection

To prepare, two strategy meetings were held with all relevant local stakeholders: the CNR, the camp management committees, community leaders, refugee representatives and APM's technical team. WeWater was kept informed and involved throughout.

The meetings focused in particular on:

• the filter locations
• roles and responsibilities for operation and maintenance
• logistics and transport
• involving and training the local community

Transporting the filters

The water filters were shipped from Germany and imported via Melchior Ndadaye International Airport in Bujumbura (Burundi). From there they travelled to Uvira, then – because the roads were impassable – by motorised pirogue across Lake Tanganyika to Baraka, and finally by four-wheel-drive vehicle to the camps. Despite the complex route, the transport went according to plan and safely.

Awareness-raising and training

Before installation, information sessions were held in the camps. Staff from APM, the CNR and the local WASH committee explained the filters' function, maintenance and lifespan – in Kirundi and Swahili to ensure the best possible understanding. Specific target groups took part in practical demonstrations to learn how to handle the filters safely.

Installation

Three water filters were installed in each camp:

• Lusenda: at the main health centre, at an additional health post and at the camp committee office
• Mulongwe: in the densely populated Block 14, at the health centre and at the administration office

To run the filters, management committees of five members each were set up in both camps – at least 80% of them women. They are responsible for the use and maintenance of the filters, regular awareness sessions and fair access to the filtered water. The committees received training in community governance and continue to receive technical support.

First impact

The six installed filters already provided around 7,500 households with clean drinking water. Initial feedback from the health centres confirmed a significant reduction in waterborne diseases in the areas served. You can find the report including the data collected here: 50% fewer illnesses thanks to WeWater filters in refugee camps in the DR Congo. However, the filters are not enough for the number of people living there, which is why we and our partners decided to install more filters in a second phase.

Phase 2: Six more filters – greater reach, new strategy

The first phase clearly showed that the AQQAcube technology is accepted, works reliably and noticeably reduces illness. But six filters are nowhere near enough to supply more than 45,000 residents. APM and WeWater therefore jointly procured and installed 6 more AQQAcube filters – again three in Lusenda and three in Mulongwe. This means a total of 12 filters are now in use across both camps.

Site selection based on lessons from Phase 1

In consultation with the CNR, the camp management, community representatives and the WASH committee, the most densely populated areas of the camps were identified and specifically selected for the new installations:

• Lusenda: areas Lusenda 1, Lusenda 2 and Lusenda 3
• Mulongwe: Block 10, Block 4 and Block 7

A tailored installation strategy

One key lesson from Phase 1: the two camps have different structures and needs. In Phase 2, a separate approach was therefore developed for each camp:

Installing the filters directly at the water points in Mulongwe is a step change in quality: here, not only drinking water but all water used in the household is filtered. This considerably reduces the risk of contamination at the source. In Lusenda, by contrast, the focus is on publicly accessible sites where a particularly large number of people can be reached.

In the event of an epidemiological emergency – such as a cholera outbreak – the filters can be flexibly moved to other locations to enable a rapid response.

Transporting the filters

The six new filters went through several logistical stages:

1. Import from Germany via the international airport in Bujumbura, Burundi
2. Customs clearance by a licensed customs agency in Burundi and at the Congolese border in Uvira
3. Overland transport from Bujumbura to Uvira and temporary storage at the APM office in Uvira
4. Transport by water in motorised pirogues across Lake Tanganyika from Uvira to Baraka – the road on this section was impassable due to its poor condition
5. Four-wheel-drive transport from Baraka to the camps

Despite the complex route, all filters reached their destinations undamaged and in line with the action plan agreed with WeWater.

Local ownership and continuous monitoring

Before each installation, APM's technical team – together with the CNR and the WASH committee – held awareness sessions in Kirundi and Swahili. They covered how the filters work, how to maintain and use them correctly, and key hygiene rules.

To ensure long-term support, two local focal persons were formally employed in Phase 2 to take care of monitoring, maintenance and reporting. Every month they produce reports on the condition of the filters and how often they are used, which the WASH project management compiles on a quarterly basis.

Challenges we continue to face

Despite the progress made, coverage remains incomplete. APM's project report identifies the following open issues:

• Insufficient coverage: even 12 filters are not enough for all households
• Difficult logistics in remote areas due to poor road conditions
• A lack of containers for safely storing filtered water at home
• No greywater infrastructure around the filter sites
• The need for ongoing training of the committees in efficient water management

These findings feed directly into the planning of the next project phase.

Project costs

Phase 1 – Pilot phase with 6 AQQAcube filters

Phase 2 – Expansion with 6 additional AQQAcube filters

Long-term monitoring, upkeep, communication with our project partners, and the six-monthly maintenance and procurement of spare parts generate additional costs. These are included for the first year.

Donate

We would like to thank all our supporters who made it possible to fund this project.

Special thanks also go to the following corporate partners for their support:

• Westernacher Consulting supported the project with a donation of €11,760.
• The employees of Westernacher raised a further €1,308 in private donations.
• The law firm mgp Merla Ganschow & Partner supported the second project phase with €6,535.
• AQUANEO Trinkwasserveredelung GmbH funded one AQQAcube with €1,470.

Do you think this project is worth supporting? Then donate now to help fund its long-term running costs.

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