The project, which focuses on urban centres around the M’Boundi, Kouakouala, Zingali and Loufika fields, helps improve infrastructure – such as schools and health centres, the drilling of drinking-water wells and the creation of CATREP, a vocational training centre for farmers. The project was split into two phases: one five-year period between 2010 and 2015; the other launched in 2017 and still under way.

During the first phase, we built infrastructure and set up basic services in the area. This included drinking-water wells, medical clinics, primary schools and training courses. In the second phase, we are primarily focused on working with associations, local groups, public authorities and institutions responsible for local development to promote youth entrepreneurship and start-ups, as well as strengthening management skills within the community. In addition, we run many health, environmental and education campaigns.

The CATREP (Centre d’Appui Technique et de Ressources Professionnelles) project began in 2012 with the construction and restoration of agricultural buildings. In 2018, we introduced organic methods, started rearing poultry, goats, sheep and pigs within CATREP’s facilities and provided technical assistance. We have drilled 22 drinking-water wells connected to 30 fountains. Seventeen of the wells are powered by solar energy, one runs off the electrical grid, three off generator power and one is operated manually. Five more drinking-water wells are under construction and one of the 22 from the first phase is being restored. Today, 14 public facilities (four schools, nine health facilities and the CATREP project) are connected to such wells. In 2018, we established multicultural centres with programmes to support education in the area around the city of Pointe Noire. The aim is to provide learning materials and identify restoration projects, as well as support programmes for primary healthcare services near health centres and other maternal and child-health facilities. In addition, we have built a training and research centre for renewable energy in Oyo, in the north of the country. 

The UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is an action programme with 17 goals aimed at the social and economic development of countries, regions and communities.  As part of the Hinda project, our aims are to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture (Goal 2), ensure the health and wellbeing of the population (Goal 3), provide professional training and lifelong learning for the community (Goal 4) and ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all (Goal 6).

Workplace safety is a fundamental principle that we share with employees, contract workers and local communities. For that reason, we implement all necessary measures to avoid accidents, including organisational models to assess and manage risk, training programmes, skills development and the promotion of a culture of safety.

Community water wells are easing the burden of women and children who travel long distances every day to collect water and are helping to improve the health of local people. Responsibility for managing the wells has been handed over to Local Committees for Water Management, who have been tasked with supervising access to the wells, managing routine maintenance and ensuring the education of local people (in collaboration with NGOs) on the use of water, the importance of hygiene and the conservation of local biodiversity.

Thanks to Hinda, we have strengthened our co-operation and partnerships with local and national authorities, the local people, and local and international NGOs. The CATREP project – included in the National Development Plan 2018-2021 – has been recognised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and has the support of the World Food Programme (WFP). Several of the project’s initiatives have also been supported by NGOs such as Médecins d’Afrique and AVSI.