Social Cohesion and Climate-sensitive programming in the DRC

Since December 2023, the EAST Consortium has been implementing the programme  'Strengthening the resilience and protection of vulnerable populations living in conflict-affected areas in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo', an initiative funded by FCDO to strengthen the food security and nutritional status of households affected by conflict and long-term displacement, and to ensure that vulnerable households are protected, have access to humanitarian aid and are better equipped to recover from the effects of violence. 

The programme is being implemented by a consortium of five INGOs: the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (Acted); Concern Worldwide (as the lead agency); Congo Handicap (CH); Danish Refugee Council (DRC); and Première Urgence Internationale (PUI). The consortium adopts a technical approach based on programmatic sectors, with Concern providing leadership in food security and livelihoods, Acted in monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning, Congo Handicap in inclusion, DRC in protection and PUI in nutrition.

By combining these areas of expertise, the programme can reach significant scale, ultimately supporting 434,138 people across the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tanganyika. This programme introduces inclusive livelihood practices in the communities served by the consortium partners in order to contribute to the adaptation and resilience of affected communities in eastern DRC.

The adoption of inclusive livelihood practices, which ensure equitable economic opportunities for all members of the community, can significantly strengthen individual capacities and social cohesion. By creating an environment where everyone has access to resources and opportunities, these practices can foster trust, reduce social tensions and encourage collaboration, thereby promoting a more resilient and harmonious society. 

As part of this programme, research on climate-sensitive programming was conducted to analyse how and to what extent inclusive and climate-sensitive livelihood practices adopted in communities served by EAST consortium partners in eastern DRC contribute to social cohesion or influence conflict dynamics. The research questions, providing evidence of the positive impact of EAST on the targeted communities and in particular demonstrating that the adoption and development of climate-resilient livelihoods in the localities covered by the programme, contribute significantly to conflict mitigation and social cohesion.