Leading the Change: Civil Society, Rights and Environment: Democratic Repulic of Congo <b>Problem and context description</b>
	  <p>The DRC is very rich in natural resources and one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world, encompassing over half of Africa’s tropical forest and fresh water reserves. In spite of this, the majority of the population live in poverty. DRC is at the bottom of International Food Policy Research Institute’s Worldwide Hunger Index and considered one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. It is also last on the United Nations (UN) Human Development Index, and at the bottom of the Gender Inequality Index. The last decades the country has been ravaged by war and conflict, with widespread sexual gender based violence mainly against girls and women. 60 % of the population live in rural areas with high dependence on natural resources, so the linkages between natural conservation, human rights and poverty reduction are very clear.</p>
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	  <p>The two provinces North Kivu and South Kivu are still deeply marked by internal unrest and ongoing conflicts. The targeted landscapes, Virunga and Itombwe, are extremely rich in biological diversity, and home to many emblematic species. The threats that jeopardise these habitats are also threats to the future of the local communities. The people who live around the protected areas of the region are totally dependent on the use of natural resources, and often lack knowledge about nature conservation and management. As a consequence, there is over exploitation of natural resources caused by the communities as well as by the government. The lack of management is also generating conflicts between stakeholders. Large parts of the market are controlled by groups that promote illegal activities and a use of natural resources that will maximize their profit.</p>
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	  <p>After a long period of armed conflict fuelled by mismanagement and corruption, there is now relative peace in most parts of the country and DRC is at a crucial point in its history. The 2006 new constitution brought decentralisation and gave more autonomy to the entities. There is hope that the current election process will improve national governance, and there are real opportunities for the communities to take steps forward to obtaining their right to take decisions regarding natural management of their own area. However, there are many challenges, and the participative framework has still to be built in a way that facilitates inclusive participation.</p>
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	  <p>DRC has an active civil society, which has its roots in the 60’s, when people came together to end dictatorship and fight for democracy. There are many CSOs and CBOs in the programme areas. However, the organisations need to be strengthened and to collaborate more, in order to have their voices heard in political decisions.</p>
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	  <b>Programme goals</b>
	  <p> The desired change of this programme is that people and communities in programme areas are effectively exercising their rights, controlling decisions and equitably receiving benefits from natural resources, and contributing to the sustainable management of key ecosystems and habitats.</p>
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	  <b>Programme activities</b>
	  <p>The programme will work on different levels in society and seek to bring rights holders and duty bearers together:</p>
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	  <li>Arrange trainings and meetings to support and empower local communities and improve their knowledge about natural resource management (NRM) and existing regulations. Enable the communities’ participation in platforms that will give them possibilities to claim their rights. There will be special emphasis on women and indigenous people to ensure their active participation.</li>
	  <li>Build technical, institutional and advocacy capacity of committees, CBOs and CSOs, and facilitate the formation of networks and platforms. Work together with the civil society actors to influence the development of standards, laws and policies and their implementation, and to minimize the impact of large-scale developments in agriculture, infrastructures and extractives in priority landscapes and development corridors.</li>
	  <li>Build capacity and SDG monitoring systems to strategically engage with local and international CSOs and the private sector in order to implement landscape approaches and influence policies and investments.</li>
	  <li>Facilitate and orient sustainable development funding, to support low carbon and climate resilience green economy investment plans.</li>
	  <li>Support a national level strong coalition of indigenous people acting in synergy with their representative at provincial and local level.</li>
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