Ben Affleck and Whitney Williams founded Eastern Congo Initiative in 2010 after Affleck’s repeated visits to war‑torn eastern Congo exposed him to community resilience.
ECI positions itself as the first U.S.‑based organisation dedicated exclusively to eastern Congo, funding local groups rather than imposing external aid.
In 2020 ECI acquired Asili, a social enterprise born from a 2013 human‑centred design sprint by IDEO.org and funded by USAID and Alight.
Asili now operates 69 water stations across South Kivu, staffed by 84 Water Mamas who sell water and 27 skilled plumbers who maintain the 60‑kilometre pipeline.
The organisation reports that its 2024 initiatives delivered more than 100 million litres of clean water, while 400,000 people gained essential health services.
Miriam, a Water Mama in Kabalo, says the network’s presence has cut her community’s water‑borne infections by half, illustrating the program’s tangible impact.