Peace builders

Meet our team

Bienfait MUGENZA

Founder & Executive Director

Bienfait Mugenza is the Founder and Executive Director of the Congo Peace Academy (CPA). Born on Idjwi Island and raised in conflict-affected communities in eastern DRC, he has devoted his life to advancing locally led solutions that transform adversity into opportunity, turning communities impacted by conflict into agents of change.

Bienfait combines his academic training from the University of Rochester in New York, where he completed advanced studies in Political Science in 2021, with extensive experience in peacebuilding, humanitarian work, community development, and social entrepreneurship. His approach integrates research, innovation, and practical action to tackle the interconnected challenges of conflict, poverty, climate change, and inequality. He has led and contributed to initiatives centered on peacebuilding, sustainable agriculture, youth and women’s empowerment, leadership development, and evidence-based programming throughout eastern DRC.

Guided by his belief that sustainable peace is achieved through opportunity, knowledge, and local leadership, Bienfait works at the intersection of peacebuilding, social innovation, climate-smart agriculture, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment. Through CPA and its flagship initiative, Agri Peace, he promotes innovative approaches that link resilient livelihoods, environmental stewardship, and social cohesion, creating pathways to dignity, self-reliance, and shared prosperity.

His vision is to help shape a future where communities are defined not by the crises they endure but by the solutions they create. He believes that locally generated ideas from the heart of Congo can inspire a more peaceful, resilient, and prosperous future, not only in Africa but beyond.

Prof. JEAN CLAUDE MUBALAMA ZIBONA

Legal Adviser & Board Member

Professor Jean Claude MUBALAMA Zibona is a distinguished Congolese lawyer practicing at the Bar of Bukavu, advisor to the International Criminal Court, and member of the Bar Committee of this Court from 2012 to 2016. He is a professor at the Catholic University of Bukavu and the University of Cinquantenaire in Lwiro. He is currently the Director of the Cabinet of the Governor of South Kivu, in Bukavu. He is passionate about peace, justice, and human rights, which he has defended throughout his career.

Pastor Isaac MUKOKA MUENA KAVULA

Head of Leadership and Discipleship

Pastor Isaac is a multilingual educator and an ordained pastor. He comes to Congo Peace Academy with a leadership degree from Light of the Nation, International Bible College in Polokwane, South Africa, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences from Universite Libre de Kigali (ULK), Rwanda. With more than five years of experience in organizational management and impact evaluation of humanitarian relief projects, Pastor Isaac is a recognized trainer for the national financial education program. He is fluent in French, English, Swahili, Tshiluba, Lingala, Kinyarwanda and Kirundi.

Shagali MUGENZA

Outreach Specialist and IT Manager

Shagali joined the Congo Peace Academy in 2021. He is a motivated and talented outreach manager who leads our communications and IT department. He is responsible for producing excellent informative content that engages our audience and builds brand recognition. He creates press releases, reports, and media materials for the Congo Peace Academy and Congo Dynamic Initiatives. He is an excellent communicator with brilliant presentation and organizational skills.

John KWIZERA

Associate IT

John works with the outreach manager in the communications and IT department. He is responsible for producing excellent graphic content that engages our audience and builds brand recognition. Together with his department manager, they create press releases, reports, and media materials for the Congo Peace Academy and Congo Dynamic Initiatives. He is an excellent communicator with sharp presentation and organizational skills.

Anita NELLY

Accountant

Under the direct supervision of the finance manager, Nelly is responsible for the short, medium, and long-term financial efficiency of all activities of Congo Peace Academy, including accounting, budgetary control, treasury, fundraising, banking, risk management, and auditing.

NTABANKABO AIME BAHOZI

Program Coordinator, Congo Peace Academy

As Associate Director of Curriculum and Learning Design, Ntabankabo Aime shapes curriculum strategy and oversees the development and delivery of learning experiences for the Congo Peace Academy. Aime has worked as a trainer for EDC in the IDIJ project financed by USAID. He is a dedicated educator who has promoted innovation, development, and management of education programs in numerous schools in Goma for over five years.

Eric OKOLISA LOKAMBA

Administration and Finance Manager

Eric holds a degree in project management from the Institut Supérieur de Développement Rural in Goma. He has over three years of experience in administration and finance. His role within the Congo Peace Academy is to establish reliable and accurate accounting and financial procedures to enable effective planning and use of resources for adequate implementation of activities.

Patric KACHERANGA

Head of Education

Under the supervision of the Director, Patrick coordinates and oversees the peace education activities at the center. He also teaches English.

Become Peacemakers

Accountability:

Congo Peace Academy prioritizes accountability as a core value, ensuring that all members of the organization are responsible and transparent in their actions and decisions. This helps to build trust and credibility with stakeholders and promote a culture of integrity.

Collaboration:

Another core value for Congo Peace Academy is collaboration, emphasizing the importance of working together effectively to achieve common goals. This involves fostering partnerships with other organizations, encouraging teamwork among staff members, and promoting open communication and cooperation.

Empowerment:

Congo Peace Academy also prioritize empowerment as a core value, seeking to empower individuals and communities to take charge of their own development and peace-building efforts. This involves providing training, resources, and support to help people build their skills and capacities, as well as promoting participatory decision-making processes.

Get in touch!

Contact:

congopeaceacademy@gmail.com

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