Our team
Main achievements
Utilization of non-timber forest products as alternative sources of food and income in the highland regions of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Trees, Forests and People, 16, p.100547.
Farming practices, varietal preferences, and land suitability analyses for yam production in Eastern DR Congo: implications for breeding initiatives and food sovereignty. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 8, p.1324646.
Seed delivery system in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo: characteristics, stakeholders mapping and challenges towards building a well-functioning seed system under humanitarian and security crises. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 22(1), p.2335128.
MONDO MUBALAMA Jean
Dr. Jean M. Mondo is a leading researcher and lecturer in sustainable agriculture, with expertise in plant breeding, seed systems, adoption of agricultural technologies, indigenous foods, and climate-smart agriculture. He is affiliated with the Evangelical University of Africa (UEA), the Official University of Bukavu (UOB), the Center for Indigenous and Ethnic Foods, and the Doctoral School in Agroecology and Climate Sciences in Bukavu, DRC. He holds a PhD in plant breeding and seed systems and also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in climate-smart agriculture in eastern DRC. Dr. Mondo has over 10 years of experience supporting farmers’ organizations, contributing to the improvement of agricultural systems in the region. He founded and leads a research unit focused on edible mushrooms and other non-timber forest products, while conducting research on neglected crops as a strategy for resilience to climate change in the high altitudes of South Kivu. In the seed sector, he was instrumental in reviving the sector in Ituri Province. From 2020 to 2022, he was a researcher at IITA and, since 2023, he has served as the focal point for the yam component of IITA's RTB Breeding project in the DRC. As a consultant for FANRPAN, he contributed to a study on the development of indigenous food value chains, funded by WFP, SADC, and FAO.
Main achievements
Farming practices, varietal preferences, and land suitability analyzes for yam production in Eastern DR Congo: implications for breeding initiatives and food sovereignty.
Utilization of non-timber forest products as alternative sources of food and income in the highland regions of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Consultancy report for the Southern Africa Development Community Indigenous Food Development program – Scoping Study on Indigenous Foods in D.R. Congo.
KIHYE BYAMUNGU Jacques
Kihye Byamungu, an engineer specializing in phytoscience, completed training in agroecology and food systems at the Evangelical University of Africa (UEA). He is engaged in agricultural research and development, focusing on the sustainable production of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and indigenous crops in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Formerly responsible for the production of edible mushroom mycelia, he led awareness-raising projects on sustainable agricultural practices and the benefits of NTFPs. Currently, he collaborates with IITA to improve yam cultivation in South Kivu and supports young entrepreneurs through innovative initiatives, such as the production of mushroom flour. Member of MycoRGL (Network of Mycologists in the African Great Lakes Region) and CIEF (Center for Indigenous and Ethnic Foods), he is passionate about agroecology, the popularization of agricultural innovations and mycology.
Main achievements
How Rural Communities Relate to Nature in Sub-Saharan Regions: Perception of Ecosystem Services Provided by Wetlands in South-Kivu.
Socio-economic determinants of land use and land cover change in South-Kivu wetlands, eastern DR Congo: Case study of Hogola and Chisheke wetlands.
Mapping small inland wetlands in the South-Kivu province by integrating optical and SAR data with statistical models for accurate distribution assessment.
Giant CHUMA BASIMINE
Géant Chuma Basimine, Docteur, est enseignant-chercheur affilié à l'Université Evangélique en Afrique (UEA) à Bukavu, à l'INERA-Mulungu, au Centre for Indigenous and ethnic Foods à Bukavu, et au Département de Géographie de l'Université de Liège. Spécialiste en géographie, gestion de l'environnement, eau et sol, zones humides et agriculture climato-intelligente, il concentre ses recherches sur la gestion durable des sols en milieu tropical. Ses travaux académiques et professionnels explorent l'évaluation des impacts des activités humaines sur l'évolution des paysages ruraux, particulièrement dans les régions montagneuses et collinaires de l'Est du Sud-Kivu. Il a participé à des projets de recherche majeure, notamment le projet FSP-Enyanya, qui vise à conserver et améliorer la fertilité des sols dans les régions dégradées de Kalehe et Kabare. Son expertise s'étend également à l'analyse des dynamiques spatiales et de l'évolution des paysages dans les régions montagneuses de l'Est du Kivu et du Maniema. À l'échelle internationale, il a mené des recherches sur la dynamique des paysages en région wallonne, autour de la ville de Liège, en Belgique. Géant Chuma adopte une méthodologie pluridisciplinaire, associant la télédétection, les systèmes d'information géographique (SIG), des enquêtes qualitatives (entretiens semi-directifs et entretiens), et des expérimentations de terrain pour approfondir ses analyses et proposer des solutions concrètes.
Main achievements
Traditional , complementary , and alternative medicine and the provision of health care to internally displaced persons in south Kivu , Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Utilization of non-timber forest products as alternative sources of food and income in the highland regions of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Pathways to care: IDPs seeking health support and justice for sexual and gender-based violence through social connections in Garowe and Kismayo, Somalia and South Kivu, DRC.
MZEE KAZAMWALI Leon
Léon Muzee Kazamwali, enseignant et expert en agroalimentaire, est affilié à l'Université Evangélique en Afrique (UEA), au Centre d'Excellence Denis Mukwege (CEDM) à Bukavu, et à l'Institut Supérieur de Développement Rural (ISDR) à Kaziba , en République Démocratique du Congo. Spécialisé en agrobusiness, agroéconomie, entrepreneuriat, chaînes de valeurs agricoles, marketing agricole et économie des migrations, il est un agroéconomiste expérimenté et un acteur clé du développement agricole durable au Sud-Kivu. Titulaire d'un diplôme en Agribusiness Management de l'Université de Makerere en Ouganda, il a mené des recherches novatrices sur l'adoption et le choix des variétés de manioc, combinant empreintes ADN et perceptions des agriculteurs. Depuis 2021, il travaille au CEDM dans le cadre du projet DiSoCo (Déplacement Somaliens et Congolais), financé par l'UKRI, où il est chargé du plaidoyer, de l'impact et de l'analyse économique des dynamiques de déplacement. Entre 2021 et 2022, il a collaboré avec RIKOLTO comme chercheur-expert en agro-industrie, étudiant la commercialisation et la consommation du riz Nyange-Nyange à Bukavu. Il est actuellement expert en agro-industrie et marketing dans un projet GIZ valorisant les produits forestiers non-ligneux et cultures indigènes autour du PNKB. Il forme les populations locales et autochtones à la commercialisation, à la gestion des coopératives et au renforcement de leur sécurité alimentaire.
Main achievements
Farming Practices, Varietal Preferences, and Land Suitability Analyses for Yam Production in Eastern DR Congo: Implications for Breeding Initiatives and Food Sovereignty. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 8, 1324646.
Seed delivery system in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo: characteristics, stakeholders mapping and challenges towards building a well-functioning seed system under humanitarian and security crises. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 22(1), 2335128.
Utilization of Non-Timber Forest Products as Alternative Sources of Food and Income in the Highland Regions of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Trees, Forests and People, 100547.
MATITI MINJA Henri
Matiti Minja Henri is an expert in geographic information systems (GIS) and project management, with expertise in data collection and analysis. He teaches cartography, statistics, and scientific research methods, while actively participating in projects related to the environment, food security, and sustainable development. Henri is proficient in tools such as ArcGIS, QGIS, and Tableau, as well as programming languages such as R and Python, which allows him to excel in monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEAL). He is particularly committed to environmental conservation and is dedicated to the analysis of land use changes as well as the sustainable management of natural resources. His work is distinguished by collaborations with local organizations to promote sustainable management practices. In parallel, Henri leads innovative research projects, notably on the impacts of climate change on agriculture in South Kivu. It also explores the use of plant extracts as ecological alternatives to chemical fungicides, thus contributing to the adoption of more environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural practices.
