Congo (DRC), ESPASK Peace and Security program in South Kivu

The programme aims to realize the following long term change: Inclusive and participatory local governance contributing to reducing the extent and incidence of customary power conflicts.

Specific project objectives are:

• The political and security situation in the targeted areas is “re-objectivized” and the intervention strategy is refined.
• The populations in eastern DRC and the Congolese state, supported by their partners, transform conflicts around customary power in the priority stabilization zones.
• The performance and quality of services of the Decentralized Territorial Entities (ETDs) are improved, enabling the delivery of transparent, equitable and accessible services to all citizens (women, young women, men, young men, children, marginalized groups and groups at risk) ;
• Women influence, and participate in, all stages of stabilization and peacebuilding processes, and are recognized as agents of social change.
• The performance and quality of security services (PNC and FARDC) are improved, they provide transparent, equitable and accessible services to all citizens (women, young women, men, young men, children, marginalized groups and groups at risk).

In order to achieve the long term change, the following pathways to outcomes need to be reached:

• “Re-objectification” of the political and security situation in the targeted areas.
• Capacity building, improvement of good practices and support for conflict stakeholders.
• Restoration of inter- and intra-community dialogue.
• Development of action plans that define actions to be taken to eliminate the causes of conflict/rivalry/security dilemmas and determine the sharing of responsibilities, in the form of commitments.
• Promotion of gender equality and the full participation of women and youth.
• Mobilization of political actors to commit themselves to the stabilization process, incorporating a culture of inclusiveness, transparency and accountability.
• Improving security governance to build mutual trust and limit the security dilemma.
• Results-based financing that encourages and rewards the performance of state services and institutions in delivering services to beneficiaries

The project will be implemented in the following target areas:

Uvira territory, South Kivu:

• Chiefdom of the Ruzizi plain (4 groupings: Kakamba, Luberizi, Kabunambo and Kagando)
• Chiefdom of Bafuliiru (Luvungi grouping)
• Chiefdom of Bavira (Bijombo grouping)

Fizi territory, South Kivu:

• Rural municipality of Minembwe (also including villages in the Itombwe sector, in the Mwenga territory)
  as well as in areas not covered by the project for punctual activities.

The services delivered by VNG International are:

• Project design and implementation
• Selection and contracting of international and local experts
• Punctual transversal expertise
• Financial and implementation quality control and guarantee
• Theoretical reinforcement of skills and practical support through performance indicators, coaching and monitoring of behaviors.

Work with government teams at several levels including :

• Share planning tools and ensure the effective participation of government representatives in the activities of each objective
• Ensure that the Government co-produces with the project
  i) participatory governance tools such as security and local development plans
  ii) tools for mobilization of the PNC and FARDC by local authorities
  iii) performance indicators, etc.
• Receive information on experiences, innovations, tools and lessons learned with other similar projects
• Analyze the challenges encountered in the field and find appropriate solutions
• Accompany the process of formalizing the approaches and good practices of the ESPASK project and others considered innovative and effective in the field.
• Active participation to the Joint Technical Committee (CTC)
• Clear collaboration and coordination with other actors and organizations involved in the project implementation areas through the “stabilization” working group.
• Coordination with other components of the SSU project, MONUSCO and other aligned projects