Ben Affleck-backed initiative delivers 100m litres of clean water in Congo
The Eastern Congo Initiative, co-founded by Ben Affleck, has successfully delivered over 100 million liters of clean water to communities in eastern Congo. The organization focuses on local leadership and sustainable development rather than traditional aid models.
Why it matters
The initiative demonstrates the impact of celebrity-backed, community-led development projects in conflict-affected regions.
Hollywood actor Ben Affleck co-founded the Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) in 2010 to support locally led development in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). By 2024, initiatives supported by the organisation were delivering more than 100 million litres of clean water across 10 service zones in eastern Congo, according to ECI's official website. The organisation also reported that its supported initiatives enabled more than 400,000 people to access essential health services that year, highlighting the scale of its work beyond emergency aid.Founded by Affleck and social entrepreneur Whitney Williams, ECI focuses on supporting Congolese communities and organisations working to improve access to essential services, strengthen livelihoods and advance justice.
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