Dear Friends of Eastern Congo Initiative, 

Three years ago we created ECI with the goal of increasing the quality and quantity of investments into eastern Congo, amplifying Congolese voices and increasing public policy engagement in the region. 

We're proud that in this short time, our grant-making and advocacy efforts have achieved high impact across these programs. To date, ECI has: 

• Granted millions of dollars to more than 20 Congolese CBOs 
• Leveraged multiple additional investments including a significant $270 million commitment from USAID to Congo focused on keeping children alive 
• Driven increased high-level engagement from the U.S. policy community on critical issues such as security sector reform 
• Engaged multiple private foundations, governments, high net worth individuals and for-profit businesses to invest millions of dollars in revitalizing the coffee and cocoa sectors of eastern Congo, which carries even greater potential to serve as a game-changing catalyst for broader, long-term economic development of the region. 

As we continue to pursue our mission, on behalf of the Board of Directors, we are delighted to announce that Paul Fagan has joined ECI as Executive Director, based in Washington, D.C. 

Most recently Paul served as Regional Director for the Africa Division for the International Republican Institute. Paul brings over 15 years of experience in international development and non-profit management. 

Throughout his career Paul has worked in numerous African countries including DRC, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Sudan. 

We are also pleased to announce that Brahmy Poologasingham joins ECI as Director of Advancement, also based in D.C. Brahmy comes to ECI from the American Bar Association's Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) where she served for five years as Special Advisor to the Director and the Africa Program's Senior Program Manager. 

Paul and Brahmy complete ECI's DC-based team alongside Deputy Director, Heather Pfahl, and will work closely with Program Director, Harper McConnell and our entire Goma-based staff. 

We are delighted to welcome Paul and Brahmy to the team and look forward to the opportunity to introduce you soon. 

Sincerely, 

Ben Affleck 

Founder, Eastern Congo Initiative 

Whitney Williams 

Vice President of the Board, Eastern Congo Initiative 

Founded by Ben Affleck, the Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) is a U.S. based advocacy and grant-making initiative wholly focused on working with and for the people of eastern Congo. We envision an eastern Congo vibrant with abundant opportunities for economic and social development, where a robust civil society can flourish. ECI believes that local, community-based approaches are essential to creating a sustainable and successful society in eastern Congo.