The Africa Indigenous Women Organization – Central African Network (AIWO-CAN), in collaboration with Groupe Academia RDC, convened a National Conference in Kinshasa under the theme:
🌱 “Revitalization of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge and Practices: Levers of Resilience in the face of climate change” 🌱
The event, supported by PAWANKA FUND, gathered 38 participants from Kinshasa and various provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Held at CEPAS – Salle P. Decker, the conference provided a platform for dialogue, exchange, and advocacy around the essential role of Indigenous Peoples in climate resilience. Through insightful presentations and focus groups, participants emphasized that traditional knowledge systems – rooted in generations of ecological observation, rituals, and holistic healing practices – are critical tools for environmental adaptation.
Key discussions highlighted:
• The central role of Indigenous women in transmitting ecological and medicinal knowledge.
• Sustainable local practices for food, energy, and forest management.
• The urgent need to recognize and integrate Indigenous perspectives into national climate policies.
The conference also presented the ongoing cross-border project led by AIWO-CAN in Cameroon and the DRC, aiming to promote sustainable pastoralism, domestic energy resilience, and women’s empowerment in Indigenous communities.
Among the strong recommendations made were:
• Recognizing traditional pharmacopoeia as a viable health system.
• Supporting reforestation with native medicinal plants.
• Strengthening the capacities of Indigenous healers and knowledge keepers.
• Ensuring intergenerational transmission of traditional knowledge through youth engagement and education.
This event marks a significant step forward in the collective commitment to elevate Indigenous voices and knowledge in climate governance. As emphasized during the closing session, preserving and mobilizing Indigenous knowledge is not just about cultural heritage – it is a pathway toward building sustainable and inclusive futures.
