2. Foreword

The Ministry for Planning of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the United Nations Stabilization Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) are pleased to jointly present the 2017 Annual Report on the implementation of the International Security and Stabilization Support Strategy (ISSSS), developed in support of the National Stabilization and Reconstruction Program (STAREC) of the DRC.

This report showcases the different initiatives undertaken in 2017 to support stabilization work in Eastern DRC. In particular, it provides an overview progress of the roll out the ISSSS. Most notably, the year saw the launch of five new stabilization programs funded by the Stabilization Coherence Fund (SCF) and the inclusion of ten projects in the alignment process, expanding the strategy to ten priority zones in Eastern DRC. We are proud to further announce that preparations started for the development of a sixth program funded by the SCF for the priority zone of Beni-Nord (North Kivu).

In 2017, which marks the first year of implementing the revised ISSSS, a wide range of actors were supported in DRC to strengthen the social contract between the state and local communities and to address the different conflict dynamics identified in the ISSSS priority zones. In Ituri province, for example, great progress was achieved in the adoption of a MONUSCO comprehensive and tailored strategy, with the ISSSS at the center, to dissolve the Force de résistance patriotique d'Ituri (FRPI) as an armed group and resolve long standing conflicts between local communities. The strategy uses a bottom-up approach to create social demand for demobilization and peace at community level, whilst simultaneously working on political engagement at provincial and national level to apply pressure on political actors that can influence the peace process in South Irumu.

The democratic dialogue interventions conducted in the framework of the ISSSS are an integral part of this innovative strategy and have already put local communities at the heart of the process. Also, as part of the ISSSS programming, significant efforts have further been invested to improve the security, social cohesion, public services and the economic recovery of communities in conflict. The first Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) baseline study produced in 2017 now provides a starting point against which the results of these new programs will be measured in the future.

Additionally, we have seen important progress with regard to Gender Mainstreaming. In line with the ISSSS Gender Strategy, all implementing partners of the new ISSSS programs have allocated at least 15% of their budgets to addressing women’s specific needs, advancing gender equality or empowering women. Increased advocacy on Gender Mainstreaming with key ISSSS stakeholders has already led to increased awareness on the issue. The National Police and administrative authorities in South Irumu committed to at least 30% female police officers in the deployment of new personnel to one of their new Commissariats. Overall, we are pleased to note the strategy gained strong support over the last year, despite a precarious political climate. resulting from the continued elections slippage. Both national and provincial authorities embraced the strategy, and STAREC’s mandate was renewed for 36 months on 21 November 2017 by His Excellency President Kabila. Further to this, strategic compacts have been developed with provincial authorities in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu who expressed strong support for the different stabilization processes, committing themselves to improving the conditions for more impact and sustainability in their respective areas. The first compact has been signed in South Kivu province in June 2017, while the finalization and signing of the compacts for Ituri and North Kivu provinces are expected in the beginning of 2018.

The year 2017 also saw increased support from many international partners. The SCF welcomed two new contributors in 2017, Sweden and Germany, and received renewed contributions from three current donors, the United Kingdom, Norway and the Netherlands. Thanks to this generous support, the Fund received just over 15 million USD in 2017, bringing the total contributions since the creation of the Fund (2015) to 40.5 million USD. Additionally, the total funding volume of bilateral stabilization interventions directly funded by the Netherlands, the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany and UNDP/ MONUSCO and the North Kivu Province, grew from 84 million USD in 2016 to 120 million USD in 2017. This reflects the increasing interest of donors and implementing partners to coordinate interventions around a common stabilization approach.

In 2018, our main focus will be on program implementation, monitoring results and documenting lessons learned. Furthermore, we will continue to work jointly to launch the forthcoming program in the ISSSS priority zone of Beni, increase the alignment of bilaterally funded stabilization interventions and engage discussions on the expansion of the strategy to further up to 12 priority zones by 2022. In addition, increasing collaboration with the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and the Government of DRC (GoDRC) will be prioritized, especially to ensure the ISSSS is consistent with national priorities.

In conclusion, we would like to thank all our partners for their support to the ISSSS. We see their support as an expression of confidence in our innovative strategy, providing new ways to address complex and recurring conflicts. We look forward to strengthen our joint efforts and are committed to make 2018 a year filled with positive measurable results for the population of Eastern DRC. communities.