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The Tanganyika province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is among the most affected by food insecurity and malnutrition and some of its territories are in Emergency (IPC Phase 4). In addition to conflict, food insecurity is caused by a decline in agricultural production due to fall armyworm (particularly in maize-growing areas), floods and insufficient rains, and limited access to land and inputs. Intercommunal rivalries between the Bantu and the Twa—sparked in 2014 during a struggle over natural resources—have worsened since 2016. Resulting armed conflicts have wiped out the few remaining social infrastructures, leading to a climate of terror and the displacement of more than 600 000 Bantu and Twa. Social cohesion, especially in the territories of Nyunzu and Kabalo, is under serious threat.

Against this background, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) launched a joint programme in 2016 to boost agricultural production, strengthen livelihoods, promote access to basic markets and support the prospects for local peace. As agriculture employs over 70 percent of the country´s population, investments in agricultural livelihoods and food security provide the most promising foundation toward improving the lives of the poor. As part of this programme, FAO implemented the Dimitra Clubs, a gender-transformative approach toward empowerment and community mobilization, aimed at improving rural livelihoods and gender equality through collective action and self-help.