Meet CLI's Local Partners

CLI is a national organization in the DR Congo, but our work is carried out at the local level in partnership with several amazing Congolese NGOs. These partners select participants, manage logistics, and deliver high-quality leadership and entrepreneurship training, often in regions where there are few educational options of any kind. We are so proud to work alongside each one of them.

For the upcoming program year, CLI has 14 partners located across the DR Congo. This is the first post highlighting four of these partners, as written by the partners themselves!

CLI Kinshasa

CLI Kinshasa has existed since 2013, thanks to the activities carried out by the facilitators of the site, more than 500 young people have been trained to date. The CLI Kinshasa office is located in the community of Lemba, on avenue Karonge number 1 in the city-province of Kinshasa. 

Currently the site is run by a site manager who works with 2 facilitators including a man and a woman. This team wants to give the best of its services to stimulate young people in the practice of leadership and entrepreneurship. Our strategy for conducting business is as follows: 

  • Ensure the recruitment of young people to follow the program: a total of 30 young people are selected to follow the training for a period of 3 months, i.e 12 sessions of training

  • Ensure the follow-up of the young people in training: Each facilitator spends at least 1 day at the office to ensure help and follow-up for young people who seek additional explanations on specific course questions or their own experiences.

  • Conducting alumni activities: The alumni club serves as a platform that makes networking and capacity building for young people based on the calendar proposed by CLI coordination.

  • The promotion of women’s participation through workshops, training sessions, raising awareness to strengthen the role of women and young girls in the community

CLI Goma

The CLI Goma site is an extension of the CLI Kinshasa site and therefore pursues the same vision of CLI, which replicate leaders who are catalysts for positive change within their communities. The site was launched in 2020. Since then, 90 young people have already benefited from the training in Leadership and Entrepreneurship (30 between 2020-2021 and 60 between 2021-2022). After the training, youth join the Alumni network where they learn from each other, the experience of other learners who have succeeded in their fields. Since the launch of the site, we have won prizes for “best participants” and “best learners.” This shows the motivation of young people and trainers to give their best for the site.

Oneness Development Institute

The organization Oneness Development Institute, “ODI” in acronym, is an organization in the field of the humanitarian sector, having its headquarters at number 24, avenue de l’Abatoire, Beni, North Kivu. It is an institution specializing in the training and promotion of leadership and entrepreneurship among young people and women. ODI makes efforts to equip young people in self-care through the different actions aimed at empowering this group which is often neglected and forgotten by many. ODI aims to strengthen the capacity of churches and local initiatives to development (ILDs) of the Democratic Republic of Congo in general, and of the Province of North Kivu in particular, with a view to promoting holistic development for the benefit of populations in need. On the specific objectives, ODI has pursued a number of specific objectives, the most important of which are to support local development initiatives (ILDS) and associations in their process of professionalization and autonomy. 

Our vision is to see young people and women transformed, in order to transform their lives and their communities. ODI has partnered with CLI since 2013 to strengthen the capacities of young people in leadership and entrepreneurship and other areas. To date, ODI has trained more than 600 young people in Beni. These youth are already making commendable actions in their own lives, for their families and for their communities.

IFPPD

The Women’s Initiative for Promotion, Peace and Development or IFPPD is a non-governmental and non-profit civil society women’s organization. Based on its specific objectives, the IFPPD ensures the promotion of the well-being of women and young people through a series of activities including the promotion of leadership and entrepreneurship for young people. The IFPPD headquarters is located in the province of South Kivu with an office of coordination located on Avenue de l’Hopital General, Nkafu district in the commune of Kadutu. 

The IFPPD dreams of a society where the socio-sanitary and economic rights of  young women are respected and women and girls have access to basic social services. Its mission is to contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of women, young people, and children for their well-being, health, social and economic success. The IFPPD sends its feeling of gratitude and thanks to its partner Congo Leadership Initiative and donors for the technical and financial support as part of ongoing training in leadership and entrepreneurship for young people in the province of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Nathaniel Houghton