Fondation Femme Plus

Fondation Femme Plus (often shortened to Femme Plus or FFP) is a non-governmental organization under Congolese law, created in July 1994 in Kinshasa on the initiative of Congolese women responding to the hardships faced by widows of AIDS. Its headquarters have always been in Kinshasa, and it has also been present in Bukavu since 1997. The organization focuses on psychosocial accompaniment for people living with HIV (PVVIH), people affected by AIDS (PA), orphans and vulnerable children (OEV), and survivors of sexual violence. It also works on tuberculosis detection among people living with HIV. Femme Plus works through three priority areas: mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and sexual violence; HIV prevention; and advocacy. Its implementation strategy favors a proximity approach, using community coalitions that correspond to health areas in its various intervention sites, allowing actions to be integrated into the health system. The organization's general goal is to help restore dignity and give hope to people living with HIV, affected persons, and their families. Over the years, Femme Plus has carried out activities across the country. It has organized advocacy and lobbying actions so that communities, private and state institutions, and national and international political actors recognize and respect the rights of people living with HIV and affected persons. In December 2015, on World AIDS Day, the foundation publicly questioned the Congolese government about HIV spending, noting that more than 74% of funds were directed toward human resources and program management rather than actual operations. The organization continues to operate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, providing support groups, prevention activities, and community-based care.

Fondation Femme Plus was created in July 1994 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the initiative of Congolese women. It emerged in response to the difficulties experienced by widows of AIDS, aiming to promote solidarity and community mutual aid for its target audiences. Since its founding, the organization has focused on mitigating the negative impact of HIV/AIDS on people living with HIV (PVVIH), orphans and vulnerable children (OEV), and affected persons through psychosocial care and assistance. It has also contributed to broader AIDS prevention movements by developing strategies to reduce HIV transmission and to national development efforts through concrete actions at the family level. In 1997, Femme Plus expanded its presence to Bukavu, while its headquarters remained in Kinshasa. The organization developed a series of activities across the country, structured around three priority axes: mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and sexual violence; HIV prevention; and advocacy. Its implementation strategy favors a proximity approach, using community coalitions that correspond to health areas in different intervention sites, allowing integration of actions into the health system. The general goal is to contribute to restoring dignity and giving hope to people living with HIV, affected persons (orphans and vulnerable children, families, survivors), and their communities. Over the decades, Femme Plus has engaged in advocacy and lobbying so that communities, private and state institutions, and national and international political actors recognize and respect the rights of PVVIH and PA. In December 2015, on World AIDS Day, the foundation publicly questioned the Congolese government about HIV spending, highlighting that more than 74% of funds were directed toward human resources and program management rather than actual operations. The organization has also participated in projects such as "Sages-Femmes Sauvent des Vies" (Midwives Save Lives), under which it was mandated to produce a birth plan to help Congolese mothers communicate their wishes to health professionals, particularly midwives, for optimal and respectful childbirth conditions. This innovative document was developed in collaboration with SCOSAF and produced by a communication advisor affiliated with FFP through CUSO International. Femme Plus continues to operate in the DRC, running monthly self-support group meetings, community awareness activities, and psychosocial support for people living with HIV.

• 2015

  On World AIDS Day in December, the foundation publicly questions the Congolese government about HIV spending, noting that over 74% of funds go to human resources and program management.

• 1997

  Femme Plus establishes a presence in Bukavu.

• 1994

  Fondation Femme Plus is created in July in Kinshasa on the initiative of Congolese women, in response to the difficulties faced by widows of AIDS.

Community-based, proximity-focused NGO providing psychosocial care and advocacy for people affected by HIV/AIDS and sexual violence in the DRC.

1. 1Femme Plus (Rdc) – Spécialisée en accompagnement psychosocial des personnes vivant avec le VIH (PVVIH), des personnes affectées par le Sida (PA) et des survivantes des violences s…femmeplusrdc.wordpress.com
2. 2À propos – Femme Plus (Rdc)femmeplusrdc.wordpress.com
3. 3Fondation Femme Pluswikidata.org
4. 4Fondation Femme Plusfr.wikipedia.org