Vision
A driver of transformation
Communities that work with scientists to create their own solutions.
Community innovation lab · DR Congo
Map the problems. Co-create the solutions.
We bring communities and scientists together to turn local challenges into lasting innovations.
Supported by IREX · Youth Excel
About
Who we are
UJUZI-SS (Ujuzi Sustainable Services) maps the problems facing Congolese communities and co-creates practical solutions with them, starting from the ground up.
Mission
From problems to innovations
We turn problems into clear needs, then mobilise the community to design, implement and monitor solutions.
Goal
A catalyst for change
Make every community problem an opportunity to innovate.
Our approach
From the field to the lab, in four steps
Collect
Explorers gather data in the field.
Analyse
The lab groups the data by theme and sets priorities.
Research
Explorers carry out research, backed by our experts.
Innovate
Local actors design, implement and monitor the solutions.
Our explorers:
- Scientists
- Students
- Community leaders
- Traditional authorities
Values and impact
What guides us
Inclusive innovation
Every voice in the community counts.
Commitment
Turning problems into opportunities.
Research and education
Sharing knowledge between the field and experts.
Practical solutions
Research findings put into practice.
Self-financing
Membership fees, grants, services and donations.
Partnerships
Universities, research bodies, NGOs and development agencies.
Our impact
- Stronger local capacity
- Communities able to tackle their own problems
- Sustainable development in the DR Congo
Our work
In the field
Every project starts by listening to communities.
Mapping the needs of young people in Lutendele
Few programmes reach Lutendele. We heard from young people in six neighbourhoods through a survey, interviews and focus groups, and visited the area's vocational training centres.
- 40%of young people choose computer skills
- 100 $+cost of most courses, excluding transport
- 4/4centres visited lack equipment
Cost and distance, not motivation, keep these young people from learning a trade. We use this data to advocate for training they can afford.
Read the story on our blog (in French)Other projects since 2019
- Kinshasa · South KivuUN Security Council Resolution 2250Awareness campaign on the Youth, Peace and Security agenda.With Million Peacemakers
- South Kivu · KabareYoung Business GroupSupport for young farmers.With Mercy Corps
- South KivuMti-Wa-AkibaReforestation of villages bordering Kahuzi-Biega National Park.With UNICEF, through U-Report
- South KivuYouth needs mappingParticipatory assessment of the needs of young people in marginalised areas.With One Forest Youth Initiative, IREX and SFCG
Supported by
IREX, through the Youth Excel project
Youth Excel helps youth organisations use research to drive action. Its Research-to-Change approach matches ours: collect, learn, act.
Learn more (new tab)
We work with
Million Peacemakers and the Nonflict® approach
To promote peaceful coexistence, we draw on Million Peacemakers' Nonflict® approach. It shapes how we handle conflict across all our work and in training our Peacemakers.
Discover Million Peacemakers (new tab)Our partners
One Forest Youth Initiative (OFYI)
Congolese Youth, Peace and Security Coalition (CCJPS)
Blog
Voices from the field
News from communities and our innovations. Read, comment, share. Articles are mostly in French.
Our articles will appear here as soon as they are published. Each one is open to your comments.
Open the blog (new tab)Contact
Join us
Explorer, partner or concerned citizen: write to us or report a problem in your community.
- [email protected]
- Phone
- +243 995 081 117