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Promoting lasting resolutions to land conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

A people-centered approach promoted by the Rome-based Agencies Resilience Initiative

Year of publication 2023

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 7 p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Synopsis (short abstract) From 2017 until 2023, the United Nations Rome-based agencies – the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the World Food Programme – implemented a joint initiative funded by Canada aimed at strengthening resilience for food security and nutrition, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Niger and Somalia. This joint programme aimed to bridge humanitarian and development objectives and meet immediate food needs while sustainably increasing food security in regions affected by protracted and recurrent crises, with a specific focus on vulnerable women and children. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, communities benefited from an innovative combination of: Food Assistance for Assets; smallholder value chain development; and financial inclusion. FAO has been promoting land access, while facilitating dialogue between landowners and smallholder tenants, in collaboration with landowner associations in three territories of North Kivu. A permanent discussion forum was established and a workshop with 30 participants, was held between the two stakeholders. Initial negotiations were conducted in 2018; this led to the signing of a collective convention known as the Social Territorial Pact within Rutshuru territory (North Kivu). This five-year resilience initiative involved structuring farmers into Farmers’ Groups to enable dialogue with landowner associations. This process included an assessment of the territory, an examination of land access constraints, community dialogue, and the establishment of a collective convention known as the Social Territorial Pact. This good practice highlights the impacts and lessons learned of FAO's activities in the context of the Rome-based agencies' initiative.

Cite this content as:

FAO. 2023. Promoting lasting resolutions to land conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – A people-centered approach promoted by the Rome-based Agencies Resilience Initiative. Rome. 

https://doi.org/10.4060/cc8953en

Language English

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