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Short Abstract

In the conflict-affected eastern DR Congo, the Kivu citizen observer network collects real-time natural disaster data, contributing to improved scientific understanding of processes, better land management and increased community awareness, while addressing security and sustainability challenges.

Abstract

In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where recurring insecurity and limited institutional resources hinder the systematic documentation of natural hazard disasters, citizen involvement offers a new avenue for monitoring and understanding their processes and impacts. The Kivu Citizen Observer Network, launched in 2019, mobilises 20 trained citizens equipped with smartphones to report floods, landslides, wind and hail storms, lightning and earthquakes in the provinces of North and South Kivu. Although it operates in a fragile and often difficult-to-access area, the network has already recorded more than 1,200 events, providing unprecedented information on the spatial and temporal dynamics of natural hazards and their impacts.

This data is integrated into a WebGIS and quarterly analytical reports distributed by civil protection to government agencies, NGOs and researchers to improve disaster response, land use planning and risk communication. The initiative also strengthens local ownership: citizen observers are identified as trusted members of their communities, promoting awareness and preparedness.

However, the project reveals broader challenges and lessons for citizen science in conflict-affected areas. Considering participant safety, maintaining motivation in the face of limited funding, and protecting data reliability require context-specific approaches. To this end, the establishment of a long-term institutional framework is essential.

The experience in Kivu demonstrates that, even in situations of armed conflict, citizen science can generate reliable environmental data, strengthen local resilience and bring communities closer to scientists and decision-makers through knowledge sharing. It thus transforms field observation into a lever for disaster risk reduction and social cohesion.