Leading Humanitarian Action for Africa's operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a clear working principle: act before the shock, rather than repair after it.
Casimir Djoko Kamdem leads Humanitarian Action for Africa (HAA), a Congolese national humanitarian organization based in Bukavu, whose work covers the most exposed areas of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
His work focuses on South Kivu and Maniema, two provinces increasingly vulnerable to floods and landslides that cause loss of life and destroy infrastructure. These territories are also marked by armed conflict, mass population displacement, and intercommunity tensions — a context where running operations demands as much security discipline as a fine-grained understanding of local dynamics.
At the head of HAA, he champions an integrated approach to aid: accessible, dignified and inclusive, built with communities rather than delivered to them. This standard shapes the organization's governance — risk management, contingency plans, ongoing staff training in security, child protection, PSEA and financial management — as well as its relationship with local authorities, community leaders, and technical and financial partners.
Trained in anticipatory action by RedR UK, he has made this approach the structuring principle of his mandate. HAA is a signatory of the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations.
"We were able to shelter many families before the flood reached their homes. It was the trust earned with authorities and communities that made this evacuation possible."
From designing early warning systems to accountability toward donors, the country direction covers the entire operational chain of HAA in the DRC.
Designing and implementing early warning systems and local contingency plans in South Kivu and Maniema.
Risk analysis, infrastructure reinforcement, and local capacity building in the face of climate hazards.
Leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating with authorities, local actors, and international agencies.
Managing security, financial and operational risks, with continuity plans for unstable environments.
A rights-based approach: protection of women, children and displaced people, gender mainstreaming and PSEA.
Partner relations, transparent financial management, internal and external audits, and accountability to communities.
Communities in South Kivu and Maniema now receive warnings ahead of floods and landslides.
Contingency plans and awareness campaigns designed with residents and validated with authorities.
During floods, the system enabled many families to move to secure shelters before the water rose.
Works carried out in advance led to a significant drop in the number of households affected by flooding.
Anticipatory action is taught to HAA teams, so the approach becomes a lasting part of practice.
HAA is a signatory of the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations.
Act proactively, rather than react in an emergency.
This conviction shapes HAA's country direction: preparing communities, earning the trust of authorities, and ensuring every intervention leaves behind local capacity rather than dependency. It comes with zero tolerance for exploitation, abuse, fraud and corruption, in line with the organization's code of conduct.
Partnerships, press or humanitarian coordination — reach HAA's national office in Bukavu.
