Democratic Republic of Congo

Despite the absence of a DRC NDF, and while waiting for its establishment, some NGOs and CSOs of the Democratic Republic of Congo involved in the development of the Nile Basin established an Interim National Forum and an interim Steering Committee, comprising representatives of NGOs involved in the development of the Nile Basin activities.

Given the immensity of the country and that the Congolese Nile Basin is located in the Eastern part of the country (about 2,500 km from Kinshasa, the capital city of the country), Dr Freddy Mbakata, a member of the DRC delegation to the NBD General Assembly, held in Nairobi in December 2003, was charged with mobilizing the stakeholders in the Congolese Nile Basin. In addition, Mr Juakali Kambale was engaged in mobilizing those who live in Kinshasa area and its surroundings and keeping contact with NBI institutions and government officials. The division of responsibilities was due to the particularly high cost of air travel within DRC.

Objectives

The main objective of the DRC NDF is to foster and develop awareness on the NBD and NBI, and to sensitize the general public to Nile Basin issues. Due to the large size of the country and recent political turmoil little attention has been paid to these important development issues. For a long time the eastern part of the country lived virtually separately from western DRC and it was very hard for people to organize effectively in addressing development issues. Under the ongoing peace process and subsequent national elections, the DRC NDF can now begin more constructively to involve civil society involvement in the NBI in DRC.

About DRC NDF

Current and Upcoming Activities

National Discourse Forum in DRC had a number of activities planned for Milestone 3 and 4 but priority was given to developing media contacts and partnership building in Kinshasa. DRC NDF signed partnerships with three print and six electronic (local FM radio) media houses in the Nile basin area to enhance sensitisation on NBD/NBI activities, to cover the project period.

Enhancing the NBD/NBI MoU, DRC NDF worked with member journalists of the Nile Media Network to form an editorial team for the NDF Newsletter. A brochure in French has been printed and distributed mainly in DRC; it is being translated into Swahili and English.

A number of meetings have been held in the Nile basin areas of Bunia, Butembo and Goma. In Goma meetings have been held with researchers from various universities with an aim of identifying key themes to be targeted for scientific research. The team of researchers was tasked with the responsibility of Identifying and collecting research studies to feed and enrich the NDF resource centre in Kinshasa.

A workshop was held with local CSOs on how to engage the NBI, where the NTEAP local coordinator made a presentation in NBI activities and specifically the micro-grants project. Members of the Chamber of Commerce of the city of Goma were also met and briefed about the NBD and NBI and how they can engage the development process.

UNDF-DRCNDF joint activities on River Semiliki
Joint meetings were held between DRCNDF and UNDF in the city of Kasindi, Beni district (80 km north-east from Butembo) at the Uganda-DRC border in the framework of trans-boundary activities, In a bid to identify main joint development sectors and build confidence in the communities along the boarder after a decade of political turmoil.

Contact DRC NDF

Kamate Kambere
DRC National Discourse Forum,
15, Basoko Avenue-Nagliema,
P.O.Box 13704,
Kinshasa, DRC

Tel: +243 81 5205175
Email: visskamy@yahoo.fr