Closing Ceremony About IUC at UCB Since 2010, the Catholic University of Bukavu (UCB) has been running an Institutional University Cooperation Program (IUC) entitled “Resource management in Kivu in the context of post-conflict reconstruction”. This program was funded by VLIR-UOS (Vlaasme Interuniversitaire Raad or Flemish Interuniversity Council) between 2010 and 2022. In a context of post-conflict reconstruction of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Catholic University of Bukavu and some Flemish universities (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Universiteit Antwerpen and Universiteit Gent) have worked on solutions in order to improving the economic and social situation, specially through scientific research and training of teaching staff. Four major projects were implemented: Improvement of the profitability of cassava-based cropping systems; Center of Expertise in Mining Management in South Kivu (CEGEMI); Specialization in Medicine for a medical staff in health problems in conflict situations; Institutional strengthening of UCB. The IUC program intended to make UCB a benchmark institution in the management of problems aggravated or caused by the post-conflict situation. The program consisted of the four projects mentioned above and a Management Unit, a structure that operates between UCB and KU Leuven in order to facilitate project implementation. VLIR-UOS supports partnerships between universities and university colleges, in Flanders and in the South, in search of innovative responses to global and local challenges. It stimulates cooperation projects between professors, researchers and lecturers and awards grants to students and professionals from Flanders and from the South. Finally, it contributes to the strengthening of higher education in the South and to the internationalization of higher education in Flanders, which is relevant for development. Organizing Committee Wenceslas Busane Ruhana Mirindi Local Coordinator & President of the Commission Benoît Neméry de Bellevaux North Coordinator & Responsible of the Scientific Committee Wivine Munyahali Member of Project 1 & Scientific Committee Jean-Claude Lukuli Petemoya IUC Management Unit & Logistic Emmanuel Akuzwe Bigosi Member of Projet 4 & Communication Jocelyne Murhonyi Ntwali International Cooperation & Reporter Program of the Closing EventKeynote Speakers Jean B. Nachega, MD, PhD, MPH, FRCP, FAAS Topic: “The Collide of COVID-19 with HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria in sub-Saharan Africa“ Prof. BANZA LUBABA NKULU Célestin Topic: ”La pollution des cours d’eau par les activités minières en R.D. Congo : défi pour les générations futures ?” Prof. Andre Pascal Kengne Prof. Andre Pascal Kengne Topic: ”The challenges of diabetes mellitus in Africa (Les défis du diabète sucré en Afrique)” Dr. Sanginga NTERANYA Dr. Sanginga NTERANYA Topic: ”Food security: The key role of research” Topic: ”Food security: The key role of research” Presentations Damas Birindwa: “Effects of staggered planting periods and potassium fertilization on the yield of cassava cultivars in South-Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo“ Francine Mukotanyi: “‘Mutualism or predation?’: Analysing the linkages between artisanal mining (AM) and smallscale agriculture(SsA) in South Kivu/Eastern DRC“ Guy Mulinganya: “High Early neonatal mortality for infectious causes in DRC is not an unavoidable low of nature. don’t you?“ Jean-Paul Mushagalusa: “La responsabilité́ des membres du fait commis par une organisation internationale : essai d’analyse au regard du droit international contemporain et de la jurisprudence “ Justin Cikomola: “Iron metabolism, HHV-8 infection and diabetes in South-Kivu“ Mannix Masimango Imani : “Prevalence and risk factors of chronic kidney disease in South-Kivu, a large scale population study“ Wivine Munyahali : “Responses of cassava growth and yield to leaf harvesting frequency and fertilisation in South Kivu, DR Congo“ PROJECT 1 PROJECT 2 PROJECT 3 PROJECT 4