In 2010, Ben Affleck co-founded Eastern Congo Initiative; by 2024, programmes it supported were delivering over 100 million litres of clean water

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. Rather than relying exclusively on externally designed aid programmes, it says its approach centres on local leadership and partnerships with community-based organisations.The clean-water figures reflect the role of Asili, a social enterprise that provides water and healthcare services in South Kivu province. ECI acquired Asili in 2020, building on an initiative designed to make essential services more accessible and financially...