1. Amplifying Indigenous Voices
Radio Terra FM serves as a tool for Indigenous communities to document their challenges and successes. By broadcasting in local languages and addressing critical issues like land tenure, conservation, and cultural preservation, we empower Indigenous peoples to take ownership of their narratives and advocate for their rights on national and international platforms.

2. Climate Action and Biodiversity Conservation
We produce content that educates communities on biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation. By framing these issues through local lenses, we make global challenges relatable and actionable for our audience.

3. Rights and Advocacy Broadcasting
Our programs educate listeners on Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), enabling communities to defend their lands against unjust practices. We highlight stories of resilience, advocacy, and environmental stewardship from local communities.

4. Supporting Women and Youth
Our programming actively promotes the participation of women and youth in leadership and decision-making. we create opportunities for these groups to share their stories and engage in solutions for community resilience and environmental restoration.

5. Community-Driven Storytelling
Terra FM fosters participatory storytelling, enabling communities to share their experiences and solutions. This approach ensures local ownership of narratives and encourages collective action on pressing issues such as food security, conservation, and cultural preservation.

Radio Terra FM isn’t just a media outlet—it’s a community movement. By blending journalism, advocacy, and education, we create a platform where marginalized voices are heard, rights are upheld, and solutions are driven from the ground up. Our programming ensures that:

• Communities are informed about their rights and environmental challenges.
• Marginalized voices influence policy and decision-making processes.
• Indigenous and local knowledge leads the way in sustainable development and biodiversity conservation.

Cooperative Agricole Terra– Transforming Agriculture and Empowering Farmers in the Albertine Region

Cooperative Agricole Terra-Terra, established by Environmental Defenders in 2023, is a dynamic agricultural cooperative that unites over 50,000 farmers and producer groups in the Albertine region of DR Congo. Operating across the provinces of Ituri, Haut-Uele, and North Kivu, the cooperative focuses on building inclusive and sustainable livelihoods for its members through innovative farming practices, market linkages, and financial empowerment.

Cooperative Agricole Terra-Terra envisions a future where farming communities thrive economically while contributing to climate resilience and biodiversity conservation. Our mission is to:

• Increase productivity and household incomes through climate-smart agriculture.
• Promote inclusive financial access via Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA).
• Support value addition and market-driven production of key crops such as coffee, cocoa, rice, maize, and beans.
• Foster environmental sustainability through tree planting and agroforestry practices.

Key Objectives and Initiatives

1.     Enhancing Agricultural Productivity:

The  cooperative supports members in adopting high-impact practices such as:

• Improved seed varieties and organic fertilizers.
• Integrated farming systems combining perennial and seasonal crops with livestock.
• Post-harvest management techniques to reduce losses and improve product quality.

2. Value Chain Development and Market Access
To ensure farmers get fair prices for their produce, the cooperative focuses on:

• Collective marketing to reduce transaction costs and improve bargaining power.
• Value addition initiatives like coffee processing, maize milling, and cocoa drying.
• Establishing market linkages with buyers and processors at local and international levels.

3. Financial Inclusion and Empowerment
we empower farmers to:

• Pool savings and access credit for farming inputs and personal needs.
• Develop financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills for sustainable economic growth.

4. Promoting Environmental Sustainability
In collaboration with our members, we integrate climate resilience and biodiversity conservation into agricultural activities by:

• Encouraging agroforestry and tree planting to combat deforestation.
• Introducing climate-smart practices to mitigate the effects of climate change.
• Advocating for sustainable land-use practices in farming communities.

Stronghold in Mahagi and Beyond

Cooperative Agricole Terra-Terra has a strong operational base in Mahagi, with members actively cultivating crops like onions, coffee, cocoa, maize, rice, and beans while participating in tree-growing programs. This localized focus allows us to address specific challenges unique to the region while scaling up successful initiatives across other provinces.

Impact and Alignment

The cooperative’s work on inclusive market participation and economic empowerment, aims to:

• Lift 50% of participating households out of extreme poverty by 2030.
• Ensure nutritional security through diverse crop production and improved food systems.
• Promote women’s and youth participation in leadership and agribusiness, ensuring equitable benefits.