YSD Great Lakes

What YSD Great Lakes does

JSD Grands Lacs (Jeunesse pour la Solidarité et le Développement dans les pays des Grands Lacs), operating under the name YSD Great Lakes, is a national non-governmental, non-profit humanitarian and development organization founded in 2010 and headquartered in Bukavu, Sud-Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The organization delivers an integrated portfolio of community-based programs across five DRC provinces (Sud-Kivu, Nord-Kivu, Maniema, Tanganyika, and Haut-Katanga), serving vulnerable rural populations — particularly smallholder farmers, women, youth, and conflict-affected households. Core programs include CEP/CEAP farmer field schools, AVEC village savings and credit associations, AGR income-generating activities, EAE child-friendly spaces, a PSEA hotline for gender-based violence reporting, Solvatten solar water purification units, and Club Dimitra women's community groups. The technology stack is non-proprietary, centered on the operational deployment of third-party Solvatten hardware and FAO-style field school methodologies, with no software product, app, or proprietary platform.

The organization operates a project-based, grant-funded revenue model in which it implements donor-funded humanitarian and development programs on behalf of international partners. Funding flows primarily from major institutional donors and UN agencies including OXFAM, PNUD/UNDP (Crisis Response Plan in Kalehe), FAO (RENUGL), GIZ (BGF/Solvatten), OIM/IOM (EU P-DDRCS in Uvira and Fizi), International Medical Corps (TUMAINI, funded via BHA), People in Need ('Cultiver pour Nourrir'), and Fonds Humanitaire RDC. JSD functions as both prime implementer and likely sub-implementer on these grants, with go-to-market conducted through donor RFPs, partner-led sub-granting, and direct engagement with provincial authorities. Beneficiary services are delivered free of charge through a field-based model anchored in 15 baseline headquarters staff plus project-recruited animators, monitors, and psychosocial agents. Reported scale metrics include 50+ completed projects, 12,323 households served by CEP/AVEC programs, 247 operational farmer field schools and savings associations, 4,000 children supported through EAE, 1,868 mental health cases in Uvira and Fizi, and quantifiable outcomes such as 172.4% agricultural yield increases and 90%+ satisfaction among Solvatten beneficiaries.

Name

YSD Great Lakes

Legal name

Jeunesse pour la solidarité et le Développement dans les pays des Grands Lacs

Website

https://jsdgrandslacs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

YSD Great Lakes (JSD Grands Lacs) is a Bukavu-based, non-profit national NGO founded in 2010 that delivers community-based humanitarian and development programs — including farmer field schools, village savings groups, child protection, and water purification — to vulnerable rural and conflict-affected populations across five provinces in eastern DRC, funded primarily by international donors and UN agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian and Development Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADABAD

Food Security, Agriculture & Nutrition Aid Programs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Bilateral Development Agencies & Aid Programs

SECONDARYBPADABAC

Health, Population & WASH Aid Programs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Bilateral Development Agencies & Aid Programs

SECONDARYBPAGABAC

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

SECONDARYBPADABAF

Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Bilateral Development Agencies & Aid Programs

SECONDARYHLAJAKAI

WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

Keywords

• Humanitarian development programs
• Community development services
• Agricultural training programs
• Village savings associations
• Child protection services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bukavu

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Project Implementation Funding: JSD Grands Lacs operates as a non-profit NGO that implements projects funded by international donors, UN agencies, and humanitarian funds. Revenue comes from project grants and funding agreements rather than commercial activities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

JSD Grands Lacs is a non-governmental humanitarian and development organization that implements integrated community-based programs in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Core offerings include agricultural training through CEP/CEAP farmer field schools, community microfinance via AVEC village savings and credit associations, child-friendly spaces (EAE), a PSEA hotline for abuse reporting, distribution of Solvatten solar water purification units, income-generating activities (AGR), and Club Dimitra women's community initiatives. The organization delivers services at no cost to beneficiaries, funded by grants from international donors and UN agencies.

Product overview

YSD Great Lakes (Jeunesse pour la Solidarité et le Développement dans les pays des Grands Lacs) is a non-governmental humanitarian and development organization that operates as a program-based NGO rather than a technology company. The organization offers integrated community development programs including CEP/CEAP (Farmer Field Schools) for agricultural training, AVEC (Village Savings and Credit Associations) for microfinance, EAE (Child-Friendly Spaces) for child protection, a PSEA Hotline for reporting abuse, Solvatten water purification units for health, AGR (Income-Generating Activities) for economic empowerment, and Club Dimitra for women's community initiatives. These programs work together through a resilience approach that combines agricultural development, financial inclusion, health interventions, and social protection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CEP/CEAP (Champs Écoles Paysans/Agropastoraux) Farmer Field Schools that enable agricultural communities to learn and improve their farming practices through collective experimentation and demonstration plots, targeting small-scale rural farmers in eastern DRC.
• AVEC (Associations Villageoises d'Épargne et de Crédit) Village Savings and Credit Associations providing community-based microfinance services, enabling members to save collectively and access small loans for economic activities, targeting rural households in eastern DRC.
• EAE (Espace Ami d'Enfant) Child-friendly spaces providing psychosocial support, educational activities, and safe environments for children in vulnerable situations, including those with disabilities and street children.
• PSEA Hotline (Ligne Verte Gratuite) Free hotline service (083 370 0500) for reporting cases of sexual exploitation, abuse, and gender-based violence, available to community members in project areas.
• Solvatten Water Purification Units Distribution Distribution of solar-powered water purification units to households to reduce waterborne diseases and decrease reliance on wood fuel, targeting vulnerable communities in eastern DRC.
• AGR (Activités Génératrices de Revenus) Income-generating activities support including kits, training, and microfinance access to help vulnerable households, particularly women, start small businesses and achieve economic autonomy.
• Club Dimitra Women's community clubs focused on hygiene initiatives, sanitation campaigns, and community development activities, targeting women in rural communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 172.4% increase in agricultural yields for supported farmers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• OXFAMmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOXFAM is listed as a key partner of JSD Grands Lacs. The organizations collaborate on humanitarian projects including environmental and social impact studies.
• PNUD (UNDP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations Development Programme partners with JSD on the Crisis Response Plan (CRP) projects in Kalehe territory, focusing on early recovery and socio-economic resilience of displaced populations.
• FAOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood and Agriculture Organization partners with JSD on the RENUGL (Resilience and Nutrition in the Great Lakes Region) project, providing technical support and funding for agricultural programs.
• OIM (IOM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Organization for Migration partners with JSD on peace and stability projects in Uvira and Fizi territories, funded by the European Union through P-DDRCS program.
• People in NeedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational NGO partner supporting the 'Cultiver pour Nourrir' (Cultivate to Nourish) initiative in Nyantende focusing on vegetable production and nutrition.
• International Medical Corps (IMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMC partners with JSD on the TUMAINI project for child protection, providing funding through BHA (Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance) for child support programs in Minova.
• AstraZenecaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization, though specific project details are not provided.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• International Rescue Committee (IRC): A major humanitarian NGO providing health, protection, education, and economic recovery services across eastern DRC. Closely comparable to JSD's multi-sectoral model serving conflict-affected populations.
• International Medical Corps (IMC): A US-headquartered humanitarian NGO providing health, protection, and WASH services in eastern DRC, including through BHA-funded programming. IMC is both a partner of JSD and a direct peer, with overlapping child protection and livelihoods work in Minova and Uvira.
• CARE International: A leading humanitarian organization with a long-standing presence in DRC focused on women's economic empowerment, food security, and GBV response — directly comparable to JSD's women-focused AGR and protection programs.
• Save the Children: A leading international NGO with a major child protection and education portfolio in DRC, including child-friendly spaces similar to JSD's EAE program. Direct peer in child protection, education, and GBV response.
• Action Against Hunger: A global humanitarian organization specializing in food security, nutrition, WASH, and livelihoods in DRC. Directly comparable to JSD's CEP farmer field schools, AGR kits, and Solvatten WASH distribution.
• Mercy Corps: A global humanitarian NGO operating in DRC with programs in agriculture, microfinance, governance, and youth empowerment. Mercy Corps is a direct peer given its proximity to JSD's integrated livelihoods-and-resilience focus in eastern DRC.
• Oxfam: A major international confederation working on poverty, food security, WASH, and gender-based violence in DRC and across the Great Lakes region. Oxfam is both a partner and a direct peer of JSD, addressing overlapping beneficiary populations with similar multi-sector programming.
• Solidarités International: A French humanitarian NGO operating in DRC with strong focus on WASH and food security in conflict-affected provinces. Directly comparable to JSD's Solvatten WASH and AVRG-resilience programming in Sud-Kivu.
• People in Need: A Czech international NGO implementing food security, livelihoods, and nutrition programs in eastern DRC. People in Need is both a partner and a direct peer, running the 'Cultivate to Nourish' initiative in Nyantende that mirrors JSD's CEP/AGR model.
• Concern Worldwide: An Irish humanitarian NGO working on livelihoods, health, and education in DRC and the Great Lakes region. Directly comparable to JSD's integrated community-based programming targeting rural and conflict-affected populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/photo
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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about YSD Great Lakes