The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is hosting a series of workshops geared towards energizing members of the Congolese diaspora to contribute more effectively to conflict management and peace promotion in the DRC.

Past DRC Diaspora Dialogue Events

• "Responsive and Accountable Leadership for a Peaceful and Prosperous Congo: Voices of the Diaspora." This May 14, 2010 event featured Congolese perspectives and recommendations to improvev economic, political and peacebuilding policies in the Congo and an address by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Susan D. Page.  Watch a video or view PowerPoint presentations from this event here.
• "Leveraging International Support to Build Peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo." This March 18, 2010 workshop featured two panels: the first comprising of representatives from development agencies (World Bank, USAID and the International Finance Corporation).  This workshop aimed to inform members of the diaspora and other statkeholders of ongoing development assistance programs in the DRC, provide a forum for a frank exchange of ideas and identify avenues for more effective diaspora involvement in peacebuilding.  Listen to audio from this event here.
• "Trans-Atlantic Diaspora Dialogue." This October 16, 2009 dialogue outlined concrete steps diaspora communities could take to help prevent conflict and promote peace in the DRC.  These include providing input for U.S.-DRC policy and program development in Washington, D.C., participating in economic development and capacity building initiatives, and supporting anti-corruption efforts at every level.  Watch a video from the dialogue here.

Projects and Initiatives in the DRC

U.S. Government Departments

• State Department
  • Increasing efforts to stem Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV)
  • Recruiting and training female police officers to work on SGBV cases
• Defense Department
  
  • Training DRC military to prevent and prosecute sex crimes
  • Upcoming program, MEDFLAG, to train DRC military medical personnel
• Treasury Department

Development Institutions

• World Bank
  • Capacity Building and Governance Project to develop adequate public finance management practices, provision of basic services for citizens and restoration of state capacity
  • Infrastructure Project to lower cost of air transportation and link DRC provinces to capital
  • Reintegration of ex-combatants
• USAID
  • Project to assist SGBV in North and South Kivu
• UNDP
  • Governance Projects to increase institutional capacity of the government and electoral system, support decentralization and local government, and fight corruption
  • Peacebuilding Projects to contribute to community recovery and arms reduction and demobilization
  • Poverty Reduction Projects that focus on environmentally sustainable development
• African Development Bank
  • Public Sector Initiatives aim to improve public finance, the business environment and transparency
  • Private Sector Initiatives invest in reconstruction of basic infrastructure, electricity and sanitation

Do you have questions or comments regarding U.S. government programs or development programs in the DRC?  Please email drcdiaspora@usip.org.