The ESPER project aims to improve the living and security conditions of the population in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. ESPER targets more than 2,500,000 people, who will benefit from the improvement of the security situation through the action of the authorities and communities supported by the project.

The project seeks to achieve the following objective:
Contribute to stabilization through the promotion and improvement of security and judicial governance, as well as social cohesion in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

In order to achieve this objective, the following pathways to outcomes need to be reached :
- Formalization of good practices in inclusive local (security) governance through legislation and public policies ;
- Budgeting for security priorities and needs related to the improvement of security governance in provinces' and territories' budgets, effective disbursement and citizen monitoring of the rational use of these resources ;
- Allocation of qualified personnel in adequate numbers to meet the security needs of the population ;
- Direct involvement and commitment of state and non-state actors in the implementation in order to ensure ownership and sustainability of the project.

The results sought by the project are as follows:
- Result 1: Security governance is strengthened through inclusive and participatory security and justice planning and monitoring mechanisms.
- Result 2: The provision of justice and security by local authorities becomes effective, accountable, accessible to communities and responsive to their needs.
- Result 3: Government authorities at different levels take action and enable/facilitate key security actors to address the most important challenges identified at the local level.

The project will be implemented in the following targeted areas:
- North Kivu Province (Masisi, Nyiragongo, Rutshuru and Goma)
- South Kivu Province (Uvira City, Uvira Territory, Ruzizi Plain)
- Ituri Province (Aru, Djugu, Irumu and Mahagi)