IMPACT Stärkt resiliens: Klimatanpassning i gruvsamhällen IMPACT Powering resilience: Adapting to climate change in mining communities - Ernst & Young Projektet Powering Resilience syftar till att stärka motståndskraften hos utsatta samhällen, särskilt ursprungsbefolkningar och kvinnor, mot de biofysiska och socioekonomiska effekterna av klimatförändringar och gruvdrift i Demokratiska republiken Kongos tropiska skogar (både torra och fuktiga). Detta mål kommer att uppnås genom förbättrad restaurering, skydd och förvaltning av Kongos skogar och skogsmarker som skadats eller hotas av gruvdrift och genom att stärka och främja kvinnors och ursprungsbefolkningars deltagande.
Projektet fokuserar på att mildra effekterna av klimatförändringar och gruvdrift och stärka lokalbefolkningens förmåga att anpassa sig genom att bygga upp resiliens i socioekologiska system, samt bygga upp kapaciteten hos ursprungsbefolkningar att utveckla och genomföra ekosystembaserade anpassningslösningar (EbA) som tillgodoser behoven hos kvinnor och män.
För att uppnå dessa mål kommer projektet att anta ett integrerat tillvägagångssätt med fokus på tre delresultat:
1.Stärkt återställande och skydd av skogsekosystem i DRK:s gruvdrabbade samhällen som är sårbara för klimatförändringar
2.Förbättrad ekosystemstyrning i skogsberoende samhällen som påverkas av gruvdrift i Demokratiska republiken Kongo
3. Förbättrad hänsyn till samhällsintressen i planer och strategier för att skydda ekosystem och biologisk mångfald, och exploateringshantering av kritiska mineraler i Demokratiska republiken Kongo.
Projektet kommer att genomföras i de torra skogarna (savannerna) i Haut Katanga och Lualaba och de fuktiga skogarna i Ituri och Tshopo och nå cirka 14 000 direkta stödmottagare och 100 000 indirekta stödmottagare. Impact kommer att ha kontor med personal i Bunia, Kolwezi och Kinshasa. The Powering Resilience project aims to enhance the resilience of vulnerable communities, particularly Indigenous Peoples and women, in the face of biophysical and socio-economic impacts of climate change and mining in DRC’s tropical forests (both arid and humid). This objective will be achieved by improving restoration, protection, and management of DRC’s forests and woodlands damaged or threatened by mining and by empowering and promoting the participation of women and Indigenous Peoples.

The project focuses on mitigating the impacts of climate change and mining and strengthening the capacity of local populations to adapt by building resilience in socio-ecological systems, as well as building the capacity of Indigenous communities to develop and implement Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) solutions that address the needs of women and men.

To achieve these objectives, the project will adopt an integrated approach focusing on three intermediate outcomes: 

1.Strengthened restoration and protection of forest ecosystems in DRC’s mining affected communities vulnerable to climate change

2.Enhanced ecosystem governance in forest-dependent communities affected by mining in DRC

3. Improved consideration of community interests in plans and strategies for protecting ecosystems and biodiversity, and the exploitation management of critical minerals in the DRC.

The project will be implemented in the Arid forests (Savannahs) of Haut Katanga and Lualaba and humid forests of Ituri and Tshopo reaching about 14000 direct beneficiaries and 100 000 indirect beneficiaries. Impact will have offices with staff in Bunia, Kolwezi and Kinshasa. The Powering Resilience project aims to enhance the resilience of vulnerable communities, particularly Indigenous Peoples and women, in the face of biophysical and socio-economic impacts of climate change and mining in DRCs tropical forests (both arid and humid). This objective will be achieved by improving restoration, protection, and management of DRCs forests and woodlands damaged or threatened by mining and by empowering and promoting the participation of women and Indigenous Peoples.

The project focuses on mitigating the impacts of climate change and mining and strengthening the capacity of local populations to adapt by building resilience in socio-ecological systems, as well as building the capacity of Indigenous communities to develop and implement Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) solutions that address the needs of women and men.

To achieve these objectives, the project will adopt an integrated approach focusing on three intermediate outcomes: 

1.Strengthened restoration and protection of forest ecosystems in DRCs mining affected communities vulnerable to climate change

2.Enhanced ecosystem governance in forest-dependent communities affected by mining in DRC

3. Improved consideration of community interests in plans and strategies for protecting ecosystems and biodiversity, and the exploitation management of critical minerals in the DRC.

The project will be implemented in the Arid forests (Savannahs) of Haut Katanga and Lualaba and humid forests of Ituri and Tshopo reaching about 14000 direct beneficiaries and 100 000 indirect beneficiaries. Impact will have offices with staff in Bunia, Kolwezi and Kinshasa. 

The contribution has several innovative components. In itself it is innovative to have such a strong focus on the connection mining and environment, it is the first of its type in DRC. It will also include the beneficiaries in the development of indicators, shaping of the project and in the monitoring and evaluation of the project. A newly developed monitoring system called Bloom will be used that connects project indicators to larger goals and frameworks such as the SDGs and Principles for Locally Led Adaption that Sida has signed up to. The focus on land rights, IPs and women and conflict resolution is also unique in the project. By assuring rights, knowledge and a strategy for local communities to reduce negative effects of mining also in provinces where mining has not already boomed is a good proactive measure. Finally there are a lot of synergies possible with other civil society actors in the sector as well as private sector and government priorities so the embassy can play an important facilitating role in catalysing the positive effects of the project.