An Ebola outbreak is once again spreading across eastern DRC. But this is not only a public health emergency. It is unfolding in the midst of conflict, displacement, food insecurity, shrinking funding, and growing protection risks for women and girls.
For communities living through these overlapping crises, stopping the spread of Ebola requires more than vaccines and treatment centres. It requires trust. It requires protection. And it requires investment in the women leaders and local organizations already supporting their communities every day.
Drawing on insights and expertise from our colleagues in the DRC and the communities they’re supporting this new brief highlights the realities communities are facing and the urgent actions needed from governments, donors, humanitarian actors, and international institutions.
What the Brief Explores
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How conflict and insecurity are undermining Ebola prevention and response efforts.
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The gendered impacts of the outbreak on women and girls
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The growing strain on food systems, livelihoods, healthcare services, and protection mechanisms.
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Why misinformation and distrust continue to hinder containment efforts.
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The critical role of women leaders, women's rights organizations, and community-based responders in building trust
Our latest analysis, “Beyond the Ebola Outbreak: Conflict, Trust and Women's Leadership in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)”, outlines what we are hearing from communities, how Women for Women International is responding, and the policy actions needed to ensure the response reaches those most at risk.
“Ebola breeds distrust. It breaks down the connections that make communities resilient. Within the context of conflict, a distrust of outsiders and authority grows into a distrust of health workers who hope to help, and doubts about whether the outbreak is even real. Outsiders receive blame for bringing the disease, and health responders are attacked. This blossoms into distrust of anyone who could be touched by the disease, eroding social and economic structures.
We already meet regularly with women to teach them about health and hygiene, and so we are well-positioned to help our sisters invest in preparedness by sharing knowledge about the devastating effects of Ebola, how to prevent its spread, and how to contain it.”
(Women for Women International, DRC, July 2026)
Read the full brief and join us in advocating for a response that centres trust, protection, and women's leadership.
