Socio-economic conditions and peacebuilding

Project description

Title: Improving livelihoods and promoting peace in eastern Congo; Democratic Republic of Congo
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Democratic Republic of Congo
Overall term: 2018 to 2021

Context

For many years, eastern Congo has suffered from a prolonged crisis and recurring armed conflict. The infrastructure and economy have been severely damaged and the social order has been disrupted. Decades of armed conflict in the region have greatly increased the willingness to resort to violence. Sexual and gender-based violence are widespread.

The lack of economic opportunities in rural areas, especially for young people, makes it easier for armed groups to recruit. The region has enough natural resources, but rural households are barely able to provide for themselves.

Objective

Socio-economic conditions have improved for people, households and social groups in selected communities of South Kivu Province.

Approach

With its self-help-oriented approach, the project supports peaceful development in the region. The international community promotes peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo through the International Security and Stabilization Support Strategy (ISSSS), which was developed together with the Congolese Government. According to the Strategy, stabilisation is an integrated, comprehensive and targeted process in which the state and the population are empowered to take mutual responsibility and mitigate existing conflicts. The project is coordinated both regionally and thematically with a series of other individual projects.

The project supports the vulnerable rural population of three communities in South Kivu Province. The region is marked by extreme poverty and armed conflict. Approximately 150,000 people live in the area. It is above all young people, young adults and women who are involved in income-generating activities. Agricultural production, processing and marketing benefit the most from the project. The plan is to create a livelihood for about 30,000 people in 4,000 households. Taking account of the local situation, the project adopts a trauma- and conflict-sensitive approach. It also helps develop relevant skills in local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and producer communities. Employees of partner organisations receive training to raise awareness of the psychosocial effects of violence.

In the communities, the project also promotes exchange on non-violence for peaceful coexistence. Support is given primarily to local exchange formats and to traditional conflict-resolution committees or to committees that have been set up by other NGOs. Other focal points of the project are gender equality, educational activities and awareness raising, as well as respect for human rights and social norms. In the medium to long term, the project will also contribute to reducing the exceptionally high levels of sexual and gender-based violence.