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Democratic Republic of the Congo

LESSON

Lesson Learned: Promoting Participatory Governance and the Rule of Law in South Kivu

The establishment of an institutional consultation strategy between the project and institutional, social and international actors has emerged as one of the keys for optimizing resources and avoiding duplication and strengthening coordination.
Project Partner
CARITAS DEVELOPPEMENT BUKAVU
Project Description
In a context characterized by the recurrence of violations of human rights and freedoms, the project aims to respond to the major problem, identified by the Protection Cluster, which is "attacks on the right to life, dignity and freedom. "integrity of the person". This will be done through reactive, corrective and constructive actions, with technical support to the local Volunteer and Volunteer Community-CLOC Local Organizing Committees. This support includes: (1) Capacity building through training for members of these community structures and local authorities on the protection, promotion of human rights and community mediation, and on the reduction of human rights violations.(2) Technical and material support for advocacy, awareness-raising and mediation actions aimed at strengthening collaboration between the civilian population and local civil and military authorities and (3) easy access for victims to appropriate care services.
Evaluation Date
January 2022
Theme
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Promoting Participatory Governance and the Rule of Law in South Kivu

The methodology of this evaluation (remotely, through the collection of evaluation data by a team of investigators provided by the grantee and instructed by the evaluator), in the face of the COVID 19 pandemic was very beneficial in terms of the involvement of the grantee in information gathering and ownership of the evaluation process.
Project Partner
CARITAS DEVELOPPEMENT BUKAVU
Project Description
In a context characterized by the recurrence of violations of human rights and freedoms, the project aims to respond to the major problem, identified by the Protection Cluster, which is "attacks on the right to life, dignity and freedom. "integrity of the person". This will be done through reactive, corrective and constructive actions, with technical support to the local Volunteer and Volunteer Community-CLOC Local Organizing Committees. This support includes: (1) Capacity building through training for members of these community structures and local authorities on the protection, promotion of human rights and community mediation, and on the reduction of human rights violations.(2) Technical and material support for advocacy, awareness-raising and mediation actions aimed at strengthening collaboration between the civilian population and local civil and military authorities and (3) easy access for victims to appropriate care services.
Evaluation Date
January 2022
Theme
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Promoting Participatory Governance and the Rule of Law in South Kivu

The measures taken by the project in order to adapt to the COVID 19 pandemic (which included the development of COVID-related awareness campaigns, the implementation of concrete measures to avoid the spread of COVID during the implementation of project activities and the necessary budgetary reallocations to accommodate for the purchase of sanitary protection material) were also key to ensuring the success of the project.
Project Partner
CARITAS DEVELOPPEMENT BUKAVU
Project Description
In a context characterized by the recurrence of violations of human rights and freedoms, the project aims to respond to the major problem, identified by the Protection Cluster, which is "attacks on the right to life, dignity and freedom. "integrity of the person". This will be done through reactive, corrective and constructive actions, with technical support to the local Volunteer and Volunteer Community-CLOC Local Organizing Committees. This support includes: (1) Capacity building through training for members of these community structures and local authorities on the protection, promotion of human rights and community mediation, and on the reduction of human rights violations.(2) Technical and material support for advocacy, awareness-raising and mediation actions aimed at strengthening collaboration between the civilian population and local civil and military authorities and (3) easy access for victims to appropriate care services.
Evaluation Date
January 2022
Theme
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Promoting Participatory Governance and the Rule of Law in South Kivu

The choice of grantees, with a "niche" contribution in complex contexts and with a high capacity for access seems key for any other initiative supported by UNDEF. In this, the choice of the grantee as a partner in setting up the project was the main reason for the success of this project; their knowledge of the geographical area covered by the project, their deep, longstanding relation with the institutional and civil society actors, their outreach to actors located in the most remote areas and their sound financial and technical skills were indeed factors leading to a successful implementation of the project, maximising its impact.
Project Partner
CARITAS DEVELOPPEMENT BUKAVU
Project Description
In a context characterized by the recurrence of violations of human rights and freedoms, the project aims to respond to the major problem, identified by the Protection Cluster, which is "attacks on the right to life, dignity and freedom. "integrity of the person". This will be done through reactive, corrective and constructive actions, with technical support to the local Volunteer and Volunteer Community-CLOC Local Organizing Committees. This support includes: (1) Capacity building through training for members of these community structures and local authorities on the protection, promotion of human rights and community mediation, and on the reduction of human rights violations.(2) Technical and material support for advocacy, awareness-raising and mediation actions aimed at strengthening collaboration between the civilian population and local civil and military authorities and (3) easy access for victims to appropriate care services.
Evaluation Date
January 2022
Theme
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Defence of Vulnerable People and Democracy Restoration for Workers in the Exploitation of Mines in Democratic Republic of Congo


In areas where long-distance travel is difficult, it is important to take this into account in project design. The legal clinics provided to miners in this project would have had greater impact if there were more of them or if they were provided with means of transport. The distance between clinics prevented those in need from taking advantage of the legal resources provided to them.


Project Description
This project aims to increase the effectiveness and protection of economic, social and cultural rights of local communities and traditional miners in relation to the exploitation of mineral resources, in the DRC. This will be achieved through a legal reform, the popularization of legal texts, awareness raising of local community leaders, of the judiciary and mine administration officials on their rights and obligations; in support of mining diggers rights and the monitoring of human rights related to the exploitation of natural resources.
Evaluation Date
August 2018
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Defence of Vulnerable People and Democracy Restoration for Workers in the Exploitation of Mines in Democratic Republic of Congo


In order to increase the efficiency of radio broadcast awareness campaigns, these programs need to be interactive and broadcast on local radio in the local language.


Project Description
This project aims to increase the effectiveness and protection of economic, social and cultural rights of local communities and traditional miners in relation to the exploitation of mineral resources, in the DRC. This will be achieved through a legal reform, the popularization of legal texts, awareness raising of local community leaders, of the judiciary and mine administration officials on their rights and obligations; in support of mining diggers rights and the monitoring of human rights related to the exploitation of natural resources.
Evaluation Date
August 2018
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Defence of Vulnerable People and Democracy Restoration for Workers in the Exploitation of Mines in Democratic Republic of Congo


Knowledge of the characteristics of the target group is of paramount importance to effective project implementation. The target group in question in this project was Congolese miners. The miners frequently move from one mine site to another depending on whether ores are easy to find or facilities are offered by traders or well owners. Thus, a better awareness of this target group requires that in addition to theoretical training, documents be made accessible to wherever they travel.


Project Description
This project aims to increase the effectiveness and protection of economic, social and cultural rights of local communities and traditional miners in relation to the exploitation of mineral resources, in the DRC. This will be achieved through a legal reform, the popularization of legal texts, awareness raising of local community leaders, of the judiciary and mine administration officials on their rights and obligations; in support of mining diggers rights and the monitoring of human rights related to the exploitation of natural resources.
Evaluation Date
August 2018
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Supporting civic participation of grassroots communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The project’s strategic design took into account lessons learned from a previous project, which on a smaller scale, had been funded by the European Union. The project addressed a proven capacity building need, and appropriately also involved local politicians from a range of parties.
Project Partner
Organisation Paix, Unité, Réconciliation, Reconstruction
Project Description
The objective of the project was to enhance citizens’ access and involvement in local governance in 50 communities in Kinshasa and Maniema Provinces. According to the grantee’s analysis elections were a time of apparent democracy, because neither the administration nor elected officials were actually accountable to citizens for their actions. Therefore, the project aimed to raise awareness among grassroots communities about the importance of participating in local governance; to involve grassroots communities in identifying information, training and support needs for participatory governance; and to document and learn from local experience in relation to participatory governance. The project’s relevance, however, was limited as its scale of action was too small to enhance democratic culture at the level of entire communities, as suggested by the grantee; and it failed to highlight the need for women’s participation in governance.
Evaluation Date
June 2013
Theme
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Supporting civic participation of grassroots communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Members of the project’s Democratic Action Clubs (DACs) have more awareness of their rights and are more likely to identify future abuses of power by the administration. The project also resulted in participants being better informed about legal remedies available to them. Elected officials who took part in public debates noted that some DAC members had boldly and publicly criticized police violence and corruption.
Project Partner
Organisation Paix, Unité, Réconciliation, Reconstruction
Project Description
The objective of the project was to enhance citizens’ access and involvement in local governance in 50 communities in Kinshasa and Maniema Provinces. According to the grantee’s analysis elections were a time of apparent democracy, because neither the administration nor elected officials were actually accountable to citizens for their actions. Therefore, the project aimed to raise awareness among grassroots communities about the importance of participating in local governance; to involve grassroots communities in identifying information, training and support needs for participatory governance; and to document and learn from local experience in relation to participatory governance. The project’s relevance, however, was limited as its scale of action was too small to enhance democratic culture at the level of entire communities, as suggested by the grantee; and it failed to highlight the need for women’s participation in governance.
Evaluation Date
June 2013
Theme
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Supporting civic participation of grassroots communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The training sessions for grass-roots trainers were largely one-offs. The failure to build on these sessions made it difficult to assess the extent to which participants had understood and were able to use the knowledge imparted to them. The same applies to the guided tours to the offices of local administrations, and therefore it is unclear if participants acquired a sufficient understanding of administrative processes to conduct lobbying or other activities.

Project Partner
Organisation Paix, Unité, Réconciliation, Reconstruction
Project Description
The objective of the project was to enhance citizens’ access and involvement in local governance in 50 communities in Kinshasa and Maniema Provinces. According to the grantee’s analysis elections were a time of apparent democracy, because neither the administration nor elected officials were actually accountable to citizens for their actions. Therefore, the project aimed to raise awareness among grassroots communities about the importance of participating in local governance; to involve grassroots communities in identifying information, training and support needs for participatory governance; and to document and learn from local experience in relation to participatory governance. The project’s relevance, however, was limited as its scale of action was too small to enhance democratic culture at the level of entire communities, as suggested by the grantee; and it failed to highlight the need for women’s participation in governance.
Evaluation Date
June 2013
Theme