Action pour le Développement et la Paix endogènes (ADEPAE) was established in 1997 in reaction to the climate of mistrust and suspicion between tribal communities in South Kivu Province, DR Congo, in particular in the town of Bukavu. The widespread mistrust and suspicion undermined all efforts at peaceful coexistence between communities, and the resumption of life and development after the horrors of war.

The ideal of ADEPAE is to see the Congolese communities living in harmony where the rights and duties of citizens are respected. To do so it accompanies people in conflict transformation, in promoting good governance and in contributing to sustainable peace. To achieve its mission and vision, ADEPAE work in three areas.

• Conflict transformation: ADEPAE provides peace education aimed at peaceful coexistence between peasant communities, with activities such as mediation, negotiation, and advocacy.
• Governance: ADEPAE achieves capacity building for local organizations and state institutions by raising awareness about responsible citizenship, the law, and research.
• Socio-economic activities: ADEPAE are involved in humanitarian relief, food security, agriculture, water and sanitation and environmental protection.

Major achievements

ADEPAE is changing behaviour, attitudes, and improving the conditions of those affected by conflict. The realization of many activities in the South Kivu and North Kivu has produced results such as:

• Reduction of water-borne diseases such as cholera in the following locations by the introduction of the 250 drinking water sources
• Improved hygiene practices through the use of 530 latrines constructed in schools
• Improvement of health care by building 17 health centres
• Improved access to education with the construction of 12 schools
• Resolution 50 conflicts between farmers and herders
• Establishment within the tribal communities of legitimate community conflict resolution approaches
• Dialogue between the Bembe, the Banyamulenge, the Bavira and the Bafuliru communities on the causes of conflicts between them
• Improved strategies for humanitarian intervention on behalf of returnees in South Kivu from research conducted on the issues
• Research report on the role of women in armed conflicts, Fizi and Uvira territories
• Training of 50 local government leaders on the process of decentralization in the DR Congo in general and in Uvira territory in particular.
• Forums for peace and development.

Active projects of ADEPAE include:

• Analysis of social security and border dynamics between Burundi and South Kivu, and the impact on conflict in the DR Congo, with the Life and Peace Institute
• Peace education, with UNICEF
• "Peace Beyond the Boarders", with OXFAM Novib
• Positive conflict transformation through migration management, with CORDAID
• Hygiene, water and sanitation in Masisi in North Kivu, with Oxfam GB.
• Local governance and conflict resolution, with the European Commission.