The United Nations in the DRC is not only one peacekeeping mission -MONUC- but also 20 agencies and institutions of the United Nations system which help the country, its authorities and the population. Each one has its mandate, which is specific, and intervenes in the country with the invitation of the government, to answer, according to its expertise, to the needs of the population.

To simplify, one could summarise what the United Nations does in the DRC in the following way. The first role of the United Nations is to help to protect, which is the role of MONUC in particular.

MONUC made a big contribution to the return of peace and democratic institutions and now assists these institutions to better protect the population, both physically and in regard to their rights.

The second role of the United Nations is the humanitarian role: to help the population, by mitigating the effects of the worst crises, in terms of food, health and sanitation for example. Here one finds the UN system agencies, who work together with all the humanitarian partners and in dialogue with the authorities.

Lastly, the third main role of the United Nations is to accompany the DRC on the way to rebuilding and development. All our action in this area is aligned in line with the priorities defined by the Congolese authorities.

Finally the United Nations is at the same time the concrete expression of the support of the whole international community in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the first partner of the country. 


How does the United Nations system in the DRC function? With so many agencies, how are all the activities coordinated?

Initially it should be known that we are here to help a sovereign state. Our priorities of action follow the strategic directions laid down by the Congolese authorities, in particular as regards their Priority Action Plan. The programmes of the various institutions of the United Nations are thus worked out to support these common objectives, with each institution intervening according to its expertise.

Then, to be more effective, we coordinate almost daily between all the agencies on the progress of the programmes. More and more, United Nations agencies are coming together for the implementation of ambitious programs to support the authorities.

I could quote the support which several agencies and MONUC bring together to the rebuilding and stabilization plan for eastern DRC, and I could give you more than one ten joint sample programmes which bring together United Nations agencies to the service of this country: from humanitarian aid for the economic recovery of communities, in the fight against sexual violence and the fight against HIV-AIDS.

Futhermore, this exemplary collaboration extends to all the other partners: NGOs, civil society, donors and of course the authorities. The way in which we coordinate our actions is now taken as a good example by our United Nations colleagues in other countries.

The needs in this country are enormous; therefore the United Nations here has to work on many building sites. But our approach is to concentrate in particular on actions whose impact for the country is multiplied, such as to build roads, to improve the health of young children or to support the reform of the security sector for example. 


What is the ultimate impact of the United Nations in the DRC?

Initially, the United Nations are proud to have accompanied this country on the way to peace and democracy in recent years. Without the support of MONUC and UN agencies, the pacification of the vast majority of the territory and the organisation of elections by the Independent Electoral Commission would not have been possible.

The impact of the United Nations is quite clear as regards humanitarian actions. By more effectively coordinating the work of all the organisations, and by mobilising more and more funds, we were able to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of Congolese people in recent years. In 2008, more than 19 million Congolese people profited from this assistance.

Lastly, even on long term development programmes this country is already seeing the fruits of the work of the United Nations and our excellent collaboration with the Congolese government.

In the health sector for example, thanks to programmes to support the Congolese health authorities, nearly 10 million children were vaccinated against polio, and the death rate for young children has been halved.

In the education sector, the rate of schooling increased by 20% last year. None of this would have been possible without a coordination of efforts of all the United Nations system, and without a daily partnership with the DRC authorities. 


On this subject, how does the United Nations collaborate with the government?

The basis of this collaboration is the principle which I evoked earlier: we are here to help a sovereign state. We bring our expertise to help the authorities to define their development strategies and their priorities of action, but these strategies and these priorities are defined by the government.

Then, we support the execution of these plans by aligning our programmes on the same objectives: to reinforce the capacities of the State and the public services, to help to set up the basis for an economic growth which also profits the poorest, to improve the social services, to fight against HIV-AIDS and to help the economic recovery of communities.

Our development programmes in particular thus meet the needs defined by the government. And we work in complete collaboration with the authorities at the national, provincial and local level, authorities that I and my colleagues meet very regularly.

I will take only one current example: our support for the governmental plan for the stabilization and rebuilding of eastern DRC. The United Nations supports the authorities in the preparation, the mobilisation of funds and the implementation of this plan. United Nations staff collaborate on a daily basis with their colleagues of the DRC ministries, the provincial governments and the various administrations to contribute to the deployment of new police officers, the construction of new roads, etc. 


Is the United Nations system thus a key actor for the development of Congo?

No, the key actors of this development are the Congolese themselves. Congo is a country with immense potential, and it is the obligation of the Congolese people to be at the forefront to tackle the challenges which the country must face.

The future of the Congo will be built by the effort of the Congolese citizens, through the vision of its political men and women, and thanks to the initiative of the lifeblood of the Congolese nation, thanks to its intellectuals, its civil society, its private sector and others.

But the United Nations are here and wish to remain privileged partners. And each day, we endeavour to reinforce this partnership. The United Nations, via the agencies, were there before MONUC and will be always there after MONUC.

The question which guides the United Nations in the DRC in each one of our decisions is this one: “How can we better help the Congolese people to achieve the goals of peace, prosperity and unity which are their right?” Each day, with our Congolese partners, we try to do better, because we are more than ever engaged to support the Congolese and their government on the way of democracy and development.

What exactly is the role of the United Nations system in the Democratic Republic of Congo?