Empowering Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Through Beekeeping in North Kivu
In the heart of North Kivu, near the iconic Virunga National Park, Groupe Académia of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is bringing hope through beekeeping. Communities living here grow crops that require large areas of arable land. Their proximity to the national park means that human-elephant conflict is common, while the park is off limits for crop farming. Bees help to deter elephants and provide honey as a ‘crop’ needing no extra land – a win-win solution!
Beekeeping is more than just honey production – it’s a gateway to economic empowerment. Through our training programs, we help men, women, and youth develop practical skills that enable them to generate income while preserving the environment. Our beekeeping courses demonstrate how to build bee hives, attract bees to the hives, and then harvest the honey safely. The bees help to reduce elephant incursions into crop fields, while providing pollination services for crops and the nearby forest in Virunga, which is a global biodiversity hotspot.
North Kivu is a difficult place for external organisations to work, as it is politically unstable and has endured several wars. Reaching sustainable development goals in this area therefore requires a local organisation that can continue its operations even during difficult times. Groupe Académia uses beekeeping as a means to drive sustainable development while respecting nature.
Although Groupe Académia is ideally placed to drive community conservation efforts in DRC, we cannot do this work alone. We are actively seeking partnerships with organisations, investors, and individuals interested in supporting beekeeping as a tool for community empowerment and environmental conservation. Together, we can expand access to training, provide necessary equipment, and create markets for honey and other bee products.
We invite all stakeholders—government agencies, conservation organisations, businesses, and environmental advocates—to join us in fostering green entrepreneurship in North Kivu. Your support can help transform beekeeping into a powerful force for economic resilience and ecological protection. For more information or to collaborate, contact us at groupeacademiardc@gmail.com or call +243990562695. Let’s build a sustainable future together!
