Taking decisions on planning a SQUEAC investigation: Bafwasende and Opala, Democratic Republic Of Congo (DRC)

Kisangani is the capital city of Tshopo district in the Oriental Province of DRC, where ACF-USA have a base to manage its several projects in the easterly region of the country. Although all the activities of this nutrition project take place in Tshopo, the intervention focuses on two different health zones of the district: Bafwasende (territory of Bafwasende) and Opala (territory of Opala). Each of these zones are located in opposite directions from Kisangani, both 250 km away. Therefore, the team based in Kisangani mainly consists of the Project Coordinator and the support units (such as logistics and finance), while the rest of the members (assistants and supervisors directly involved with the development of the daily work) are based in the area assigned to guarantee a close support and suppervision of the activities. Not only due to the distance but also to the difficulties of access to certain areas of intervention, the field team only comes to Kisangani once a month to have a follow-up meeting with the rest of the project members.

Photo 1. One of the motos provided by ACF to guarantee the access of the project staff to all areas of intervention All these organizational aspects that already had been considered for the successful regular development of the activities, were taken into account when planning the coverage assessment of the project. The disscussions that took place with the group confirmed the diametrally different context of each area so it was therefore decided to carry not only one SQUEAC investigation but two, one in Bafwasende and one Opala. During the field work, the assistant and supervisor responsible of the zone of study were strategically placed in the work groups due to their knowledge and experience in the area.

 Photo 2. Team members during working on the planning of the SQUEAC investigation during the training