| Grant Profile: |
| Project Title: |
Socio-economic Reintegration of Ex-combatants |
| PCF/LICUS/SPF: |
LICUS |
Status: |
Open |
| File Number: |
64
| Region: |
AFR |
| Sector: |
Health and other social services |
Country: |
Congo, Democratic Republic of |
| FY approved: |
2008 |
Grant Theme : |
Social dev/gender/inclusion |
| Keyword(s): |
Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration;Livelihoods |
Approved Amount: |
$1,975,200.00 |
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Grant Recipient:
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization |
Grant Purpose:
The grant will assist reintegration of ex-combatants and enhancing their sustainable livelihoods into their communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The project will jump start reintegration activities in the country. In addition, immediate implementation of this small scale project will serve several larger purposes:
(1) Increase stability by providing currently vulnerable ex-combatants with a source of support and heightened possibilities for economic reintegration;
(2) Rebuild confidence amongst the remaining ex-combatants not yet benefiting from the program that assistance will in fact be delivered;
(3) Avoid delays in the national program to paralyze the provision of support;
(4) Create momentum amongst the donors and partners to mobilize additional resources.
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Grant Activities:
Component 1: Technical Assistance
Experts contracted by UNFAO will provide overall technical expertise in the reintegration activities in the country and monitor the impact of the project. Activities will be implemented under the umbrella of the National Program for Demobilization and Reintegration (PNDDR) and will follow the guidelines set forth in the national framework for the reintegration of ex-combatants.
Component 2: Beneficiary and Community Sensitization
The primary aim of the component is to facilitate the return of ex-combatants into their communities by fostering a better understanding of the complex situation faced by all parties, the choices and opportunities available, and the responsibilities and actions necessary for such a process to succeed.
Activities carried out under this component will include:
(1) In-class training;
(2) Guidance and professional orientation;
(3) Radio and print information materials
(4) Community-wide meetings and other activities as may be deemed appropriate by the implementing agencies.
If and where necessary, UNFAO will provide training or refresher courses for local partners.
Component 3: Training
Ex-combatants, eligible for reintegration assistance, will be provided with different training options within one or several of the following fields: agriculture, fishing and animal rearing. Training activities will be carried out by local partners under the supervision of UNFAO.
Component 4: Start up kits
All beneficiaries will receive a reintegration kit (start up kit) containing the tools/materials necessary to carry out the selected activities and start the process of generating income.
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News:
Following the 2002 peace agreement in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Bank pledged its support to the national authorities in the demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants in the country. The project became part of a wider multi-country multi-donor effort in the Great Lakes region to release combatants from military service and help them return to civilian life.
The Socio-Economic Reintegration project in the Democratic Republic of Congo was launched in 2008. Its objective is to serve as a tool for promoting security and stability in the country. Its comprehensive approach which includes dismantlement of armed groups and reintegration of ex-combatants into their communities has turned into an inseparable part of the entire peace process in Congo. It provides combatants with the support needed to start a new life in their communities, while making them less vulnerable after the end of warfare and helping them stay resistant to renewed violence.
The idea behind the project is that, to be effective and sustain long-term results, demobilization should be accompanied by appropriate return of combatants into civil society and complementary socioeconomic development for the country as a whole. To fulfill these objectives, the demobilization and reintegration project in Congo has aimed to provide comprehensive socio-economic support to ex-combatants demobilized by the National Program of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reinsertion in the North and South Kivu Provinces of the country, to allow them to return to their communities.
Only 8 months after its launch in September 2008, the program provided reintegration aid to more than 3,000 ex-combatants. In addition to combatants, the project has involved their spouses, communities’ leaders and other community members. First steps included identification of ex-combatants and providing those with information on the initiatives launched to help them. Following outreach to ex-combatants, the project started providing communities with information on the long-term benefit of successful reintegration of ex-combatants and the ways to assist the process. This initiative has followed a Peace and Citizenship model which uses radio broadcasts, flyers and popular meetings to reinforce acceptance of ex-combatants in their communities. Recent activities have included radio programs on peaceful co-existence with ex-combatants and leisure activities such as soccer games and concerts.
As the North and South Kivu provinces in which the program is being implemented are well known for their agricultural potential, the project has included food crops training as an essential part of reinsertion activities. Basic agriculture trainings have been provided in more than 60 sites. The trainings include lessons which focus on both theory and practice by each ex-combatants. In addition to trainings, participants have been provided with reintegration start-up kits which include farming tools, seeds, and bicycles.
In addition to trainings and start-up kits, the project has supported the establishment of ex-combatants agricultural associations. Participants have combined their farming skills in interesting ways, which is expected to contribute to substantial revenues and financing capacities of farming cooperatives in an area in which access to microcredit is very challenging.
Apart from their food production aspect and expected financial benefits, agricultural activities have served as a way to socialize ex-combatants with their communities. They have promoted communities’ cohesion by not only helping combatants acquire improved agricultural skills but also by allowing the active participation of community members. As a result, the image of ex-combatants has improved, and their integration into civil life is progressing well. It is expected that these activities would also contribute to preventing future conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The project is implemented by CARITAS Developpement Congo.
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