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

The programme aimed to realize the following long-term change: inclusive and participatory local governance contributed to reducing the extent and incidence of customary power conflicts.

Specific project objectives were:

• The political and security situation in the targeted areas was “re-objectivized” and the intervention strategy was refined.
• The populations in eastern DRC and the Congolese state, supported by their partners, transformed conflicts around customary power in the priority stabilization zones.
• The performance and quality of services of the Decentralized Territorial Entities (ETDs) were 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 influenced and participated in all stages of stabilization and peacebuilding processes, and were recognized as agents of social change.
• The performance and quality of security services (PNC and FARDC) were improved; they provided transparent, equitable, and accessible services to all citizens (as listed above).

In order to achieve the long-term change, the following pathways to outcomes were 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 defined actions to be taken to eliminate the causes of conflict/rivalry/security dilemmas and determined 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 who committed themselves to the stabilization process, incorporating a culture of inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability.
• Improvement of security governance to build mutual trust and limit the security dilemma.
• Results-based financing that encouraged and rewarded the performance of state services and institutions in delivering services to beneficiaries.

The project was 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 (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 included:

• 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.

VNG International worked 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-produced, 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.
• Participate actively in the Joint Technical Committee (CTC).
• Collaborate and coordinate clearly with other actors and organizations involved in the project implementation areas through the “stabilization” working group.
• Coordinate with other components of the SSU project, MONUSCO, and other aligned projects.