MONUC Civil Affairs Section (CAS) assists the Congolese Government to extend and consolidate state authority across the country and more specifically in areas formerly controlled by armed groups. This includes the establishment of a functioning civil administration, which is an essential step towards stabilizing Eastern Congo and allowing the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees. MONUC Civil Affairs Section is also increasingly involved with local communities to assist them in the identification of priority projects and advocacy for funding. CAS works in coordination with the United Nations Integrated Office and the Ministry of Planning on the formulation, launching and implementation of return and reintegration strategies and stabilization programs.
In the field of restoration and extension of State authority, CAS main objectives are:
To contribute to the establishment of functional State institutions in priority eastern areas of the DRC and in western targeted unstable areas.
To increase State institutions’ capacity to deliver priority basic social services to citizens.
To lay the foundations for good governance, accountability and transparency at the provincial and municipality levels.
Decentralization process
As some provincial authorities and local populations, including Civil Society Organizations, are not yet familiar with the decentralization process, CAS remains deeply committed to disseminating and raising awareness on decentralization laws with the collaboration and support of international partners such as UNDP.
MONUC Civil Affairs Section is currently completing a mapping of potential conflict areas tied to the decentralization process and issues related to the division of existent administrative zones. MONUC Civil Affairs Section also continues to support and to provide analysis and small scale capacity building on planning and budgeting concerns with the aim of improving the capacity of state institutions’ to deliver basic social services and formulate strategies to reduce poverty.
United Nations Security and Stabilization Support Strategy (UNSSSS) for Eastern DRC
In recognition of the fragile nature of peace-building in eastern DRC, and the need to urgently deliver tangible peace dividends to the Congolese population, both the United Nations and broader International Community have focused their efforts on specific priority interventions that are necessary to prevent a relapse into conflict and enhance security and stability in the short to medium term. To that effect, the United Nations system is implementing a Security and Stabilization Support Strategy (UNSSSS) for Eastern DRC designed to consolidate current peace gains and create the conditions for longer-term recovery and development. The UNSSSS is an integrated UN-system approach to enhancing security, promoting the restoration of state authority and creating conditions for longer-term social and economic recovery in a number of key conflict-affected areas in Eastern DRC (notably Ituri, North and South Kivu, Maniema, and North Katanga).
Implementation of the UNSSSS formally began in North Kivu in July 2008, and is being closely coordinated with national and provincial authorities. Since its implementation, measurable progress has been achieved, and over 60 million USD have been mobilized to support restoration of state authority, return and reintegration of IDPs and refugees, and community recovery.
Within the state authority component of the UNSSSS, a number of key roads are being rehabilitated by UNOPS through labor-intensive means and made accessible in North Kivu, with work on additional roads commencing by late October in Ituri and South Kivu. The labor-intensive approach has created an estimated 1,300 jobs, which is expected to rise to over 4,000 over the next months. In addition, preparations are currently underway to simultaneously begin the construction of over 50 police stations, courts, prisons and administrative buildings, and to provide them with basic equipment and supplies. At the same time, MONUC is closely working with national and provincial counterparts in the vetting, selection and deployment of PNC officers. 300 policemen have already been deployed in North Kivu out of a total number of 2,600. Moreover, discussions are at an advanced stage with respect to the support to be provided through the UNSSSS for the deployment and capacity building of local civil administration personnel.