Participatory governance to face climate change and natural disasters in Democratic Republic of Congo

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the negative effects of climate change, demographic pressure and migratory flows linked to recurring conflicts directly affect vulnerable populations in already fragile territories, where crises have become endemic and multidimensional. The pressure on resources caused by the combined effects of these crises thus accentuates the vulnerability of the populations.

**The territories of Kalehe and Masisi, in Kivu, have a population of nearly 1,500,000 and are particularly affected by natural disasters and declining soil fertility, resulting in lower agricultural production and consumables products quality. **Other populations in the region also experience this situation. Therefore, change management is a major issue for the preservation of the environment and the survival of these populations.

The initiative consists of strengthening the human and economic capital of the populations of the territories of Kalehe and Masisi, in an approach of community management of good practices and risks related to climate change and natural disasters.

Objective: move towards an endogenous, collective and concerted resolution of problems. This first component is linked to the introduction of organizational, practical and technological changes, in order to consolidate and strengthen the effectiveness of local action.

FID’s funding will enable activities to be conducted around the following three specific objectives:

• Strengthen the capacity of communities to manage disaster risks and environmental issues (e.g., trainings in the development of local risk and disaster management plans, community work related to the actions in these plans, etc.)
• Promote and develop organic, productive and restorative agricultural practices (e.g., hillside development and operation plans)
• Mobilize grassroots communities and territorial authorities for sustainable, stable and inclusive socio-economic development and integration (e.g., training on human economy and territorial approach, consultation with local authorities, etc.)

The project will initially be conducted in four villages in the territories of Kalehe and Masisi and then be extended to 22 other sites in the two territories before being further extended to other territories of the country.

The overall objective of the project is to strengthen the human and economic capital of the populations of the territories of Kalehe and Masisi in a community-based management approach of risks and problems encountered and good practices.

The intervention aims at enabling the populations to benefit from a clear and collective understanding of the risks related to climate change and natural disasters, their causes and their interaction. The communities will then have the strengthened capacities and techniques to prevent and manage them.