DR Congo
Commentary DDR in DRC: the limitations of externally led approaches
I recently researched Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) projects carried out by the international community in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo, or DRC), looking at activities of the World Bank’s Multi-Country Demobilization and Reintegration Program (MDRP). This programme brought together the Congolese Government, various NGOs and UN agencies between 2002 and 2009. I found that although a large number of ex-combatants were successfully demobilized, reintegration was less successful. Furthermore, I found that the majority of DDR projects suffered from a number of shortcomings common to externally led approaches to peacebuilding. Read more >>>
Boite organisée de Secours Sanitaire et d’Etudes (BOSSE)
Boite organisée de Secours Sanitaire et d’Etudes (BOSSE) was founded in South Kivu, DR Congo, in 1993. BOSSE saw a lack of attention from the Congolese state on newly repatriated Congolese and the need for a local humanitarian organisation to address their needs and concerns. BOSSE was initially focused on health and established a health clinic. But, [...] Read more >>>
Commentary DR Congo: the role of locals and internationals
The history of state predation and neglect in DR Congo led to the development of a strong and professionalised civil society in the 1980s. Since 2003 there has been a proliferation of international NGOs working in the eastern region, and a concomitant proliferation of ‘local partners’, oriented towards the international donor regime, leading some to speak of two civil societies. In June 2011 I visited DR Congo to gain more insight into the role of internationals and locals in the DR Congo conflict. Read more >>>
Centre d’education et development de Fizi (CEDEF)
Centre d’education et development de Fizi (CEDEF) provides programmes in participatory development, peacebuilding and reconciliation, non-violence and peace education in DR Congo. It was established in 2003 and is based in Fizi territory. CEDEF envisions an empowered community that is in charge of its own development and is able to independently tackle issues of poverty [...] Read more >>>
Passion for Souls Mission / DR Congo (PSM/DRC)
Passion for Souls Mission / DR Congo (PSM/DRC) was established in 2009 by a group of people concerned about the affect the long-running conflict was having on their community. The years since 1996 have seen one of the world’s most deadly conflicts in DR Congo, whose victims include not only those killed but the many who [...] Read more >>>
Action des jeunes pour le Developpement Communautaire et la Paix (ADECOP)
Action des jeunes pour le Developpement Communautaire et la Paix (ADECOP) builds local capacity for peacebuilding and conflict transformation. ADECOP has a particular focus on strengthening the role of young people as agents of social change and active contributors in the rebuilding of societies in Eastern DR Congo. ADECOP seeks to equip individual young activists [...] Read more >>>
Local Dialogue for Peace in DR Congo
Bringing the army, militia and demobilised soldiers together PSVS are a peacebuilding organisation in DR Congo. On 28 October 2010, they brought together 28 members from the army (FARDC), FRF militia, Mai-Mai militia and demobilised ex-combatants to engage in a day of dialogue and discussion. The army and the militia groups have been in violent conflict [...] Read more >>>
Reseau Haki Na Amani (RHA)
Reseau Haki Na Amani (RHA) was established during the conflict in Ituri, North Kivu, between 2002-03. The conflict created much tension between communities in the region, and RHA was formed in order to bring them closer together. Much of their work involves large meetings between communities, usually involving up to 100 participants, but sometimes much [...] Read more >>>
Information Pour Tout le Monde (IPM)
Information Pour Tout le Monde (IPM) began in 2007 to provide information on peace education, and peace in general, to communities in Walikale, North Kivu. IPM operates information and research centres across the region, as well as training communities in peaceful conflict resolution and co-habitation. The terrain and activity of armed groups, makes large parts [...] Read more >>>
Initiatives pour la Réconciliation Communautaire (INIREC)
INIREC (Initiatives pour la Réconciliation Communautaire; ‘Initiatives for Community Reconciliation’ in English) operates to bring reconciliation and peace to Uvira and Fizi in South Kivu, DR Congo, a region that has been affected by heavy fighting and violence during the Congolese Wars. Their vision is to see all Congolese communities in general and particularly those [...] Read more >>>
