RRI Land and forest rights, livelihoods and nature conservation in the DRC

The overall goal in the project is to improve land and forest governance by securing community customary tenure rights and strengthening local livelihoods for poverty reduction, biodiversity conservation, and climate change prevention and mitigation. Based on the overall goal, detailed below are the following expected impacts: 1) Customary land tenure is secured under Community Forest Concessions for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, strengthening the DRCs movement toward rights-based conservation and Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs). 2) Rights-based land reform laws and strategies are adopted and implemented in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples and local communities, protecting communities rights to secure livelihoods, safety from exploitative industries, and full self-determination. 3) Communities livelihoods are strengthened, thus reducing poverty and food insecurity in five provinces due to improved performance and sustainability of existing community-led initiatives and economic activities (inclusive of women and youth) that enhance communities financial security and self-determination. La Commission Nationale de la Réforme Foncière/The National Land Reform Commission (CONAREF) is the structure responsible for implementing the roadmap for land reform in the DRC. It is a part of the ministry of land rights. The contribution will support CONAREF to develop and pilot a community land registry and support the securing of community forestry concessions in five core provinces: Kwilu, Kongo-Central, Equateur, Tshopo, and Sud-Ubangi. To support communities to realize and employ their full bundle of rights under community forest concessions, community capacities will be strengthened to manage their land and natural resources, negotiate with external entities, and develop sustainable livelihoods goals and strategies. The outcomes of the project are: -The capacity of CONAREF is strengthened to ensure a more transparent and robust land reform process and land tenure registration system which includes mechanisms to ensure the participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. -Indigenous Peoples and local communities capacity is strengthened to monitor land use, to engage and negotiate with private, public, and CSO actors, and to advance their land tenure rights and priorities. -The viability and sustainability of livelihood activities in target communities are strengthened, with a particular emphasis on women members. -Community-conservation initiatives in community forest concessions are strengthened, secured, and expanded in target areas. At the end of the project the following results should have been achieved: -Reached 2 million people throughout the five identified provinces and provided support in securing at least 500,000 hectares of land and forest.(about 0,2% of total DRC area) -Landscape restoration of at least 5,000 hectares -Improved livelihoods of at least 5,000 households by activities prioritized by communities themselves, which will be reflected in the local development plans that will be produced during project implementation. -Adopt at least 10 local agreements, policies, and/or laws for inclusive and sustainable management of land, forest, water, wildlife, and flora and resolution of conflicts related to the use of land, forests, or nature conservation. The Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) is a global coalition of more than 150 rightsholder organizations and their allies dedicated to advancing the forestland and resource rights of Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, local communities, and the women within these communities. RRIs mission is to support Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and local communities struggles against marginalization and for sustainable, self-determined development. It does so by leveraging the power of its global coalition to promote greater global commitment and action toward policy, market, and legal reforms that secure their rights to own, control, and benefit from natural resources, especially land and forests. By advancing a strategic understanding of the global threats and opportunities resulting from insecure land and resource rights, RRI develops and promotes rights-based approaches to business and development and catalyzes effective solutions to scale rural tenure reform and enhance sustainable resource governance. RRI has been receiving Sida support for a long time on a global scale. RRI has been active in the DRC since 2010 and has been contributing to reforms n both land and forestry and rights of indiginous populations. They have been able to develop a good collaboration with state institutions and local civil society.