FBA in the DRC

Living conditions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are among the world’s worst. The 2002 peace agreement did not put an end to the fighting between government forces and various armed groups. FBA promotes the participation of women in processes related to peace and security in the DRC, and supports efforts for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants.

The DRC has been plagued by conflict since gaining independence from the former colonial power Belgium in 1960. UN troops have been present in the DRC for over 20 years. MONUSCO is the largest UN peace operation existing today, and is mandated to enforce peace and protect civilians from violence.

Because of the ongoing fighting, the DRC is experiencing a humanitarian disaster. Out of 85 million inhabitants, over two million are internally displaced.

Within the framework of Sweden’s development cooperation with the DRC, FBA is focused on two areas:

Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants
One important part of peacebuilding in the DRC is to disarm combatants, and support their reintegration into civilian life. Communities receiving former combatants need to be prepared for this, and trust must be built between the communities and the returning ex-combatants. Structures that contribute to mobilizing individuals into armed groups also need to be transformed. FBA offers training for key actors within the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process in the DRC.

Women, peace and security
Women and girls are marginalized in processes related to peace and security in the DRC. In 2017, FBA launched a programme for inclusive peacebuilding in the country. The participants, working for both state and non-state organizations, were selected on the basis of their ability to influence the development in the war-torn eastern parts of the DRC. During 2017 and 2018 they were offered training sessions and continuous mentoring on integrating a gender perspective into their peacebuilding work. This includes, among other things, to promote the equal participation of women and men and to address the different security needs of different groups. During 2019 and 2020, FBA is focusing on the promotion of gender mainstreaming within the participant’s organizations.

Click here to read the entire strategy for Sweden’s development cooperation with the DRC 2015–2019. According to a supplementary decision by the Swedish government, the strategy has been extended to also include the year 2020.

New FBA engagement in DR Congo

Launch of FBA’s peacebuilding programme in Congo

Photo: MONUSCO

Making the voices of the Afghan people heard in the peace talks between the Taliban and the government

Historic peace talks between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban movement have just begun. But how will the voices of the Afghan people be brought to the negotiation table? A new platform, run by the Afghan civil society with practical support from the FBA and funding from the EU, will bring together the concerns and desires of the Afghans, and transmit them to the negotiators.

2020-09-16 10:05

On international deployment

Kristian Edqvist

Training manager in Brussels

Linnéa Lindberg

Adviser to the UN in Myanmar

Johan Chytraeus

Monitoring officer in Ukraine

Karolina Riedel

Statistician in election observation missions

Vanda Dahlbom

Analyst in Iraq

Björn Tedeman

Election observer

Johan Fredborn Larsson

Political adviser in Mali

Read our publications

Mitigating Election Violence through Dialogue and Mediation in West Africa

This brief discusses the role that dialogue and mediation training can play in addressing electoral violence, a serious problem to human life and democracy in many countries. Over fifty percent of the African states have experienced electoral violence since the 1990s.

Documents

Mitigating Election Violence through Dialogue and Mediation in West Africa.pdf

More Publications

THE FBA BLOG

>

Posted by Rhodri Williams
Civil society as a critical partner: rule of law and accountability in the Liberian COVID response

>

The rule of law is broadly recognized as necessary for good governance, peace and security. The UN 2030 Agenda recognizes this dynamic in all countries, rich or poor. However, the impact of the rule of law – or its absence – is most strongly felt in countries struggling with conflict and crisis.

As part of its work in Liberia, the FBA has supported local partners to apply rule of law principles in public administration. This reflects a ... Read entire post »
2020-09-14 10:34
>

Posted by Andreas Berg
There and back again – the unexpected journeys of year COVID

>

What is the last ‘normal’ thing you remember doing? In the extreme year of 2020, many of us have asked this question, trying to remember the last event or activity where we blissfully, innocently, spent time in public spaces without caution, moving through crowds, kissing cheeks, and sharing food in a way that now feels reckless or at least decadent and daring. For me the answer would probably be attending a wine festival in Kyiv in ... Read entire post »
2020-09-09 09:49
>

Posted by Randolph Rhea
The evolution of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programs – from programs to processes

>

South Sudan 2013
The prop-plane bounces through turbulence and I am awoken. I gaze out the window at the landing strip. From high above it looks busy, with many aircraft on the tarmac. When we land I realize that all of the cargo planes, troop carriers, and small aircraft are actually all destroyed and the fuselages have merely been pushed to the side of the mortar-potted runway. The wounds of war are still fresh here.

After several hours ... Read entire post »
2020-07-08 08:37