3. Our Mission

The ISSSS is designed to support the implementation of STAREC and aims to deliver tangible peace dividends and reinforce political engagement in support to the stabilization process. In order to operationalize the ISSSS, priority interventions have been planned and coordinated by the ISSSS Technical Secretariat, composed of MONUSCO’s Stabilization Support Unit (SSU) and STAREC.

Mandate

The mission of the ISSSS Technical Secretariat finds its origin in a series of resolutions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). In line with UNSCR 2348, adopted on 31 March 2017, the ISSSS Technical Secretariat aims to strengthen government engagement in the stabilization process, ensure the effective management of stabilization programs funded by the Stabilization Coherence Fund, strengthen the coordination of bilaterally funded programs aligned to the ISSSS, provide policy advice and up-to-date conflict analysis and document lessons learned based on a strong monitoring and evaluation system.

The ISSSS defines stabilization as ‘an integrated, holistic, but targeted process of enabling state and society to build mutual accountability and capacity to address and mitigate drivers of conflict, creating the conditions for improved governance and longer term development’.

Patrimonialism Fragmented identities People’s frame of reference Impunity Small arms

Root causes

Patrimonialism Fragmented identities Extensive borders Socio-demographic issues

Conflict dynamics

Security dillemmas Mobilization around land and identity

Regional dynamics Exploitation of natural resources Patrimonialism Fragmented identities Conflict entrepreneurs Socio-demographic issues Poverty

Root causes

Patrimonialism Extensive borders Easy availability/ high prices Socio-demographic issues

Addressing specific conflict dynamics

The ISSSS aims to address the specific conflict dynamics in Eastern DRC which relate to an interplay of security dilemmas, mobilization around land and identity, the exploitation of natural resources and regional dynamics.

Box 1: The framework of the ISSSS consists of five pillars:

Democratic Dialogue:

Support national and provincial governments to advance peace processes and implement key commitments under existing agreements.

Security:

Reduce threats to life, property and freedom of movement.

Restoration of State Authority:

Progressively restore and strengthen public security, access to justice and administrative services.

Return, Reintegration and Recovery:

Support the return and reintegration of internally displaced persons and refugees in their place of origin, and contribute to local economic recovery.

Fight against Sexual and Gender Based Violence:

Ensure a coordinated response of all those involved in combating sexual violence, in the implementation of the Strategy on Combating Sexual Violence.

Holistic and integrated approach

The ISSSS follows a targeted approach through its concentration in thirteen priority zones across five provinces in Eastern Congo, namely North-Kivu, South-Kivu, Ituri, Haut-Uele and Bas-Uele. These zones have been jointly identified with STAREC and key ISSSS stakeholders and have been prioritized based on the impact of conflict(s) on security, social cohesion and economy and the capacity of actors to positively influence the conflict dynamics.

Political Engagement

Considering the influence (both positive and/or negative) that political and security actors have on the conflict dynamics, engaging, sensitizing and influencing those actors constitute a key part of the conflict transformation process. Hence, the political dimension of the ISSSS, and the high-level engagement and commitment of both the GoDRC and other key actors with a stake in the conflict, are critical for stabilization interventions to succeed and be sustainable. ISSSS follows a two-track approach towards this political engagement, including the conclusion of compacts with provincial and national authorities as well as targeted engagement with key conflict actors (more on political engagement on page X).

Preparing for the future

The Strategic Review of MONUSCO’s tasks, priorities and related resources conducted during the second semester of 2017 recommends that the SSU should begin transitioning to a structure jointly managed by MONUSCO and the UNCT during the pre-electoral period in anticipation of a full transfer to the UNCT in the post-electoral period.1 Based on this recommendation, SSU developed a strategic vision on how to scale up the implementation of the ISSSS between 2018 and 2022, whilst gradually preparing the transitioning of the ISSSS Technical Secretariat, and the SSU more broadly within the UN system.

Operational Mechanisms

To maximize results of stabilization efforts, the ISSSS is operationalized through two operational mechanisms:

Mechanism 1: Multi-donor Stabilization Coherence Fund Mechanism 2: Alignment of bilateral funded projects

The SCF was established in 2015 and is governed by a National Funding Board, co-chaired by the Minister of Plan and MONUSCO’s DSRSG/RC/HC, and three Provincial Funding Boards, co-chaired by the Provincial Governors and MONUSCO’s Heads of Offices.

Financial support has been provided by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Germany (more about financial support on page X). The ISSSS Technical Secretariat also collaborates closely with bilateral donors and their implementing partners to align their projects to the ISSSS framework, enabling a coherent and holistic approach towards conflict transformation in the different priority zones. It further maximizes the impact of stabilization efforts funded through different mechanisms. The current aligned portfolio amounts to a budget of 120 million USD funded by the Netherlands, the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany and UNDP/ MONUSCO in partnership with the North Kivu Province.