Promoting peace and stability in Eastern Congo
Project description
Title: Support to Peace and Stability in Eastern Congo
Commissioned by: Germany Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Overall term: 2018 to 2021
Context
Eastern Congo has been suffering from a political and social crisis and armed conflicts for many years. Systems providing services for all aspects of life have been weakened. As a result, the state can hardly perform essential tasks such as protecting citizens, guaranteeing law and order and providing social security. Sexual and gender-based violence is extremely widespread. In particular, the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri are considered unstable. There are currently more than 140 armed groups in these provinces.
The international community is supporting peaceful development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) as part of an International Security and Stabilisation Support Strategy (ISSSS). The ISSSS was developed together with the Congolese Government: according to this strategy, stabilisation is an integrated, holistic and goal-oriented process in which the state and the population are enabled to bear mutual responsibility and to mitigate existing conflicts. In the process, the foundations are laid for longer term development. However, national and international actors working on peaceful development and stabilisation are lacking resources, skills and experience, particularly in order to better address specific local conditions and contexts.
Objective
Competencies and skills for a peaceful development in Eastern Congo are improved among local and international actors.
Approach
The project supports the strategic approach of the ISSSS. A technical secretariat known as the Stabilisation Support Unit, which is based at the UN peace mission in DR Congo, coordinates the relevant measures. The project advises the Stabilisation Support Unit on how to take greater account of local conditions in planning and implementing measures promoting peace and stability. To achieve this, the actors implementing ISSSS in Eastern Congo are supported in using more local knowledge, analytical skills and know-how. The project finances national and international research on peace-building in the Congo. In addition, it provides technical advice to the Stabilisation Support Unit. ISSSS implementing partners receive advice to help them proceed in a coherent and coordinated manner.
The project also improves the framework conditions for peaceful development by supporting important local actors. To this end, competencies among local and civil society actors who contribute to a peaceful development are improved. Structural development measures in civil society support the effectiveness of peace initiatives. Selected non-governmental organizations receive expert advice and financial support to further develop stabilising approaches and expand their reach and impact. Relevant areas of support include preventing violence, human rights, gender, and peace journalism. Furthermore, the project supports civil society actors in organizational development, where beneficiaries also have the opportunity to acquire knowledge in the areas of financing and management.
In addition, the project works with the Panzi Foundation run by Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Denis Mukwege on preventing and providing aftercare for sexual and gender-based violence. The project supports the foundation in providing legal and psychosocial advice and assistance to survivors of gender-based violence. It also supports equality between men and women by promoting positive norms with regard to gender relations and sexuality.