EcoRéseau

ÉcoRéseau is a social and technological enterprise designed to address chronic poverty and low agricultural productivity among young and small-scale farmers in Kalemie, Tanganyika province, and its surrounding rural areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Recognizing that agriculture remains one of the few available livelihoods in these communities—yet suffers from low yields due to lack of training, inputs, and access to markets—ÉcoRéseau offers a transformative solution. It aims to turn vulnerable youth into agricultural entrepreneurs through a model that integrates community organization, technical training, digital tools, and inclusive financing.
The project operates through four interconnected pillars: (1) formation of Collective Action Groups (CAGs) of 3–5 members to foster collaboration and accountability; (2) provision of intensive training and access to high-quality agroecological inputs; (3) use of a digital platform to link farmers to buyers and investors while ensuring transparency through real-time monitoring; and (4) a profit-sharing system that reinvests in the community and rewards all stakeholders. Through this inclusive and scalable approach, ÉcoRéseau not only boosts youth employment and agricultural productivity, but also contributes to local food security and the sustainable development of rural economies

In the Tanganyika province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially in Kalemie and its surrounding rural areas, thousands of young people and small-scale farmers live in chronic poverty. Although agriculture is one of the few available sources of income, it remains unproductive and unprofitable due to several key challenges: lack of access to quality agricultural inputs, limited technical training, poor market access, and minimal financing opportunities. These barriers discourage youth engagement in farming and trap rural families in a cycle of economic vulnerability and food insecurity.
This situation reveals a systemic failure to support and modernize small-scale agriculture, particularly for young people who could drive innovation and productivity. Without targeted support, these farmers remain disconnected from markets, financial resources, and modern techniques. ÉcoRéseau aims to address this gap by offering an integrated solution that empowers youth and smallholder farmers to become successful agricultural entrepreneurs, contributing to both economic development and food resilience in the region.

ÉcoRéseau proposes an innovative and inclusive solution to rural poverty by transforming young and small-scale farmers into successful agricultural entrepreneurs. The initiative empowers beneficiaries through a four-pillar model: first, it organizes them into Collective Action Groups (CAGs) of 3–5 members, promoting shared responsibility, discipline, and mutual support. Second, each group receives hands-on technical training in agroecology, cooperative management, and entrepreneurship, along with access to quality agricultural inputs such as seeds, eco-friendly fertilizers, and tools—partially funded by ÉcoRéseau or local sponsors.
The third pillar is a digital platform that connects farmers to buyers, sponsors, and investors, enabling them to access markets and secure funding for their agricultural projects. The platform also tracks real-time progress and ensures transparency. Finally, the project implements a fair profit-sharing system where 60% of earnings go to the farmers, 20% to sponsors/investors, and 20% to support the expansion of the program. This integrated approach not only increases productivity and income for rural youth but also builds a sustainable agricultural ecosystem that boosts food security, stimulates the local economy, and inspires the next generation of rural innovators.

What makes ÉcoRéseau innovative is its integrated and participatory approach, which combines grassroots organization with modern technology to create lasting change. Unlike traditional development programs that treat farmers as beneficiaries, ÉcoRéseau empowers them as entrepreneurs and co-owners of their success. The creation of Collective Action Groups (CAGs) fosters accountability, teamwork, and resilience, while the blended support of training, coaching, and partial input funding ensures that each group has the knowledge and tools needed to thrive. This model builds capacity and ownership at the community level, enabling young people to break out of poverty through collaboration, not dependence.
Another major innovation lies in ÉcoRéseau’s digital platform, which brings transparency, traceability, and connectivity to rural agriculture. By linking farmers directly to markets and social investors, the platform creates a new digital marketplace for small-scale agriculture, allowing real-time project tracking and personalized investment options. The profit-sharing system further reinforces sustainability by fairly distributing value among farmers, investors, and the organization itself—ensuring long-term growth and reinvestment. This unique fusion of community organizing, agroecological training, digital tools, and fair economics sets ÉcoRéseau apart as a scalable and replicable solution for rural development in Africa.

The main goals of ÉcoRéseau are to empower young and small-scale farmers in Kalemie and surrounding rural areas by transforming them into successful agricultural entrepreneurs. Specifically, the project aims to (1) organize at least 500 youth into Collective Action Groups (CAGs) within the first two years, (2) provide them with high-quality training in agroecology, cooperative management, and entrepreneurship, (3) ensure access to essential agricultural inputs and tools through partial subsidies and local partnerships, (4) connect them to reliable markets and investors via a digital platform, and (5) establish a transparent and equitable profit-sharing system that boosts income, strengthens local food security, and promotes reinvestment in new farmer groups and community development.