Program Development and Coordination in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Background information

The majority of the projects supported by Mission 21 in the Democratic Republic of Congo are located in the province of Kwango, on the border with Angola and about 500 kilometers from the capital Kinshasa. The remote villages in the Kwango are difficult to reach because the state hardly invests in the construction and maintenance of roads here.

Mission 21's cooperation program in the DR Congo aims to guarantee basic health care for part of the population in the Kwango region and to contribute to sustainable development through agroecology in the villages. It advocates schooling for children from poor backgrounds and better opportunities in the labor market through vocational training programs. Gender equality is also an important part of the cooperation program, which is pursued through the projects as well as through the program development.

Lack of transparency in governance and weak social cohesion are very present in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including in Kwango Province. A well-functioning administration often does not exist, and corruption is widespread. Thus, it is not surprising that there is little trust toward state institutions. Against this background, it is important to strengthen the CEK in matters of good governance.

Project goals

Through workshops and further training in the areas of financial management, anti-corruption, impact-oriented project management, conflict sensitivity, "Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment" (PSEAH), the effectiveness and efficiency of the projects is to be strengthened and the risk of corruption reduced. An important aspect is the promotion of a gender mainstreaming approach at all levels of the projects to increase gender equity. With Kally Maluku, there is a liaison between the partner organization CEK and Mission 21 who supports measures in this area and is responsible for smooth communication.

Target group

The target groups are primarily the leaders and employees of the projects. Through a so-called training of trainers, the knowledge is passed on to the broad network of the partner church CEK and thus reaches the population.

Activities

• Implementation of workshops and further training in the most important areas of "good governance" by external experts
• Ensuring an efficient flow of information between Mission 21 and the partner organizations and their projects
• Strengthening communication between the projects, CEK and Mission 21.

Project progress

Since January 2022 a new person, Kally Maluku from the partner church CEK is responsible for the flow of information and communication between Mission 21 and CEK.

In October 2022, trainings in the areas of project management, finance and PSEAH (Prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment) were conducted during 7 days with all project managers and the project accountants. The training was prepared and supported in close cooperation between Mission 21 and Kally Maluku, as well as technically conducted by external, local experts. A next training is planned for November 2023.