How the Makoki ya Mwasi project advances women’s sexual and reproductive rights in humanitarian settings.

At 32, Amani (name changed) is a mother of five living in the Alpha displacement camp in Beni, North Kivu. Like thousands of families forced to flee violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, her life is shaped by uncertainty, limited resources, and the daily challenge of keeping her children safe and healthy. 

In a context where access to basic services is fragile and daily survival takes priority, the prospect of another pregnancy became a source of deep concern. With food scarce and health services difficult to access, Amani questioned how she could protect her own health while continuing to care for her children. In displacement, decisions about one’s body are too often shaped by circumstance rather than by choice. 

A shift begins inside the camp 

A turning point came when Amani connected with the Mashujaa — a community‑based network supporting women and girls with information, accompaniment, and referrals on sexual and reproductive health and rights. 

Through open, respectful dialogue, she learned that access to family planning is a right — not a privilege limited to stable settings. She began to see it as essential to her health, her autonomy, and her family’s well‑being, especially in situations of displacement and crisis. 

With accurate information and supportive guidance, Amani felt empowered to seek care. 

Accessing care, on her own terms 

Amani visited the Butsili Health Center, where health providers had received capacity‑strengthening support from the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Ipas DRC. She received care grounded in respect, confidentiality, and informed choice. Together with the provider, she discussed options and selected a family planning method aligned with her needs and decisions.

For Amani, this access went far beyond clinical service. It represented a step toward reclaiming control over her body and her future in a context where so much felt uncertain. With her health needs addressed, she can now focus on what matters most: caring for her children and moving forward with greater peace of mind. 

Acting where needs are most urgent 

Amani’s experience reflects the broader impact sought by Ipas DRC, whose work focuses on addressing inequities in access to sexual and reproductive health care across the Democratic Republic of Congo — particularly for women and girls living in crisis‑affected and highly vulnerable settings. 

This work is part of the Makoki ya Mwasi project, implemented by Ipas DRC with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The project aims to ensure that women and girls — including those living in the most fragile and humanitarian contexts — can access reliable information and high‑quality sexual and reproductive health services. It also contributes to reducing gender‑based violence and unintended pregnancies by placing women’s rights, choices, and dignity at the center of all interventions. 

Implemented in North and South Kivu, Kasaï, and Kinshasa, the project takes a comprehensive approach by: 

• strengthening community‑based actors, such as the Mashujaa, to share accurate information and challenge stigma and harmful norms; 

• expanding access to family planning and reproductive health services, including in humanitarian settings; 

• and supporting local health facilities to provide respectful, rights‑based, and client‑centered care. 

Through this integrated approach, thousands of women and girls have been supported to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, with meaningful changes observed at both individual and community levels. 

Restoring agency, even in times of crisis 

In the Alpha displacement camp — as in many crisis‑affected communities across eastern DRC — Ipas DRC demonstrates that rights‑based sexual and reproductive health care is both possible and essential, even in contexts of instability and emergency. 

For Amani, this support has meant one clear and powerful outcome: the ability to decide about her own body, despite displacement and hardship. A decision that allows her to look ahead with renewed confidence — for herself and her children.