Mission

DUVILLA’s mission is to contribute to sustainable peace, naturally.

Naturally, because we believe that a sustainable, green economy is key to peace, security and long-term stability. And naturally, because we have a passion for the environment and natural resources, and want to use our expertise to contribute to sustainable livelihoods of poor or marginalized people.

DUVILLA assists local entrepreneurs in setting up their business in a sustainable way by training and coaching them, and by assisting them in obtaining start-up capital and overseas business partners. Local entrepreneurs play a crucial role as drivers of change. They are well placed to stimulate a process of sustainable development because they are rooted in society and can serve as a catalyst of innovative economic growth. DUVILLA also supports companies, governments and non-governmental organisations in the transformation towards a sustainable economy.

DUVILLA strongly believes in the huge potential of Africa, where many positive changes are taking place in terms of economic development, democratization and recognition of its cultural and natural beauty. The focus of our work is on conflict-affected countries in Africa, such as Sudan, Congo and Liberia. But we also work in more stable emerging economies, such as Tanzania, Cameroon and Mali, where sustainable economic development is essential to prevent future conflicts around land, water and natural resources.

Vision

DUVILLA was created to respond to the lack of attention for long-term sustainability in conflict-affected countries. DUVILLA’s Founder Mark van Dorp noted that humanitarian aid and development NGOs usually focus on the short-term needs of the population, while the private sector is looking for quick economic gains, often at the expense of nature and people. Van Dorp wanted to change this by making sustainability a central element in peace building processes.

Van Dorp decided to create a specialized consultancy company that focuses on sustainable peace. To save the infinite riches of Africa’s nature, to enable people to develop sustainable livelihoods, and to stimulate economic development that is not harmful to the environment and actually benefits local communities. In this way, one of the root causes of many conflicts – unsustainable management of natural resources and unequal wealth sharing – can be tackled, while reducing the chances of relapsing into conflict again.