FBA in the DRC

Young women and men make up a large portion of the population but lack access to political processes, limiting their opportunities to influence the future. Gender inequality is present in all sectors, and the DRC is one of the most challenging countries in the world to be a woman. When the security situation worsens, women are often disproportionately affected, both through increased exposure to gender-based violence and the consequences of forced displacement. At the same time, young people face restrictions in access to education and employment, with some groups at risk of being exploited or pressured to join the army or armed groups as a means of survival.

The DRC is a key country in the fight against climate change, with its vast rainforests and strategic minerals playing a crucial role in the green transition. However, local communities are already suffering from the impacts of climate change, as shifting rainy seasons lead to widespread droughts and flooding. This has increased climate-related security risks, placing additional strain on the country’s social, economic, ecological, and political systems. Combined with weak state institutions, these factors risk exacerbating already existing conflicts.

FBA primarily works in the following areas within the framework of Sweden’s development cooperation strategy for the DRC:

Women, Peace, and Security

In 2017, FBA launched an inclusive peacebuilding program in the DRC, training Congolese representatives from the state and civil society who have the potential to influence development in the conflict-affected eastern regions. The program focuses on integrating a gender perspective into peace and security efforts, including addressing different groups’ security needs and promoting women's participation and influence.

In 2024, FBA provided technical support to the process that led to the country’s new National Action Plan for implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.

Youth, Peace, and Security

FBA supports the implementation of the Youth, Peace, and Security agenda to enable meaningful youth participation in peace and decision-making processes. This includes supporting the development and implementation of a national action plan for Youth, Peace, and Security in the DRC, in collaboration with both state and non-state actors.

At both national and provincial levels, this work aligns with the guidance on national implementation of the Youth, Peace, and Security agenda that FBA has developed together with UN partners, member states, and youth-led organizations.

Climate Security

FBA works to integrate climate-related security risks into peace and stabilization efforts in eastern DRC, where climate change exacerbates conflict drivers such as land scarcity, internal displacement, and the overexploitation of natural resources. By bringing together state and non-state actors from the security and environmental sectors, as well as local peacebuilders in North and South Kivu, FBA promotes joint analysis, knowledge exchange, and collaboration on climate impacts and security risks.

This work has contributed to a greater understanding of the links between climate, security, and conflict, as well as the development of strategies to address these risks. It also strengthens cooperation between civil society and state institutions and promotes long-term solutions for sustainable peace and stability in the region.
For more information, see the publication Climate-Related Security Risks in Eastern DRC.

Disarmament and Repatriation of Foreign Armed Groups in Eastern DRC

Since 2022, FBA has been collaborating with the UN Office of the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region (O-SESG-GL) to address violence and armed groups in eastern DRC. This has been done by strengthening a Contact and Coordination Group (CCG) involving five neighboring countries (Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda).

The CCG’s mandate is to facilitate the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, repatriation, and resettlement (DDR/RR) of members of foreign armed groups in eastern DRC back to their home countries. The CCG also aims to identify measures to prevent young people and other community members from joining destabilizing actors.

FBA has contributed to operationalizing the CCG by enhancing their understanding of DDR processes and strengthening their operational engagement. This is a key prerequisite for establishing contact with foreign armed groups and persuading them to lay down their weapons and return home.

Research Collaboration

FBA is conducting a research project on gender aspects of climate security at the local level in eastern DRC (1325 at the Grassroots: Women’s Responses Facing Climate Insecurity). Close collaboration between this research initiative and FBA’s other operations in the country has facilitated valuable knowledge and experience exchange.

FBA has also engaged researchers based in North and South Kivu in the planning and implementation of activities, ensuring that research reaches practitioners in both environmental and stabilization fields. In addition to conducting its own research, FBA maintains research groups that include recognized experts specializing in conflict dynamics in the DRC (link). FBA regularly engages with these researchers to ensure that its work is evidence-based.

Click here to read the entire strategy for Sweden’s development cooperation with the DRC 2021-2025.

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Police officer Innocent Rutema Baguma works for gender equality in eastern DR Congo.

New FBA engagement in DR Congo

Launch of FBA’s peacebuilding programme in Congo

Photo: MONUSCO