Communities most affected by crisis should lead their own recovery.
Africa Community Village (ACV) is a youth-led nonprofit founded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, working at the intersection of education, environment, agriculture, health and livelihoods across Eastern DRC.
A response born from the place it serves
ACV was founded by a group of young Congolese leaders who saw, first-hand, that the communities most affected by conflict, poverty and environmental degradation were rarely the ones designing the response to it.
We chose to root our work in Eastern DRC — one of the world's most complex humanitarian contexts — precisely because that is where meaningful, community-owned change is hardest to build and most needed. Rather than a single intervention, ACV promotes community-driven, climate-resilient and inclusive development through five integrated program pillars that meet people where the need is most acute: in the classroom, on the land, in the clinic, and in the local economy.
Today, that founding instinct still shapes every program we run: listen first, build local capacity always, and measure success by what continues after we step back.
Resilient, healthy, empowered communities — led by their own youth
We work toward a future where communities across Africa are resilient, healthy and empowered: where youth lead sustainable development, environmental protection and inclusive socio-economic transformation, rather than waiting for it to arrive from elsewhere.
Our missionTo empower youth and vulnerable communities through education, sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, health promotion and socio-economic development initiatives that strengthen resilience, improve livelihoods, and promote peace and sustainability.
Eight values, one working culture
These are not framed posters on a wall — they are the criteria our teams use to design a program, choose a partner, or settle a disagreement in the field.
Community Leadership
Communities are the authors of their own development, not the audience for someone else's plan.
Youth Empowerment
Young people are treated as capable leaders today, not as beneficiaries to be developed for tomorrow.
Equity & Inclusion
Programs are designed so that women, youth and marginalised groups have a genuine seat at the table.
Sustainability
Solutions are built to outlast the funding cycle, rooted in local capacity and local materials.
Integrity & Accountability
We report honestly on what works, what doesn't, and where resources go.
Collaboration
Government, civil society, traditional leaders and international partners all have a role to play.
Resilience & Adaptability
Programs are designed to keep functioning when shocks — conflict, climate, displacement — hit.
Respect for Indigenous Knowledge
Generations of local ecological and agricultural knowledge are treated as expertise, not folklore.
Meet the people and the safeguards behind the mission
Our model only works because of the team that runs it and the governance that holds it accountable.
Meet the team
The young Congolese professionals leading program design, finance and field delivery day to day.
View the teamGovernance & accountability
How ACV is governed, safeguarded and held accountable to the communities and partners it serves.
See our governanceField notes & visuals
Illustrated snapshots and stories from program areas around Goma and Virunga National Park.
Browse field notes