The DRC has immense natural resources, and the potential to become an important driver of economic growth on the African continent. However, political instability and insecurity persist, especially in the eastern part of the country.

The project, implemented together with our partners International Alert and the International Rescue Committee, is predicated on the hypothesis that if women and other marginalized groups are given the skills and opportunities to participate in community-based decision-making, more sustainable and impactful solutions to conflict will result.

We strengthen civil society organizations’ existing capacities to conduct participatory conflict analysis, mediation and advocacy and establish or revitalize community peace structures. We have supported the creation of participatory conflict analyses, trained organizations in participatory conflict analysis methods, and established local peace and development committees serving thousands of citizens.

We have also provided support to provincial advocacy networks that take grassroots efforts and testimonials to provincial, national and regional levels.

We also build the capacity of women leaders and create safe spaces for women and other marginalized groups to participate in local decision-making. We have trained women in transformative leadership and engage women in weekly leadership activities through mentoring clubs. This mentoring approach was showcased as an empowering strategy for women during the African Women Leadership Conference held in Rwanda in April 2019.

We also support inclusive community-led development plans, deliver livelihood trainings and shape development resources and services in target areas to be conflict-sensitive. We have trained over 1,300 women and other marginalized groups in livelihoods activities and helped to establish sixty village savings and loan associations.