Conflict and social transformation in Eastern DR Congo

The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become one of the most complex crises for international donors and local NGOs alike to grasp. The mix of local, national and international factors at play in the perpetuation of conflict has shown that any solution, political or developmental, will not succeed without taking into account these different dynamics. Multiple levels of analysis are necessary. Much development aid in Congo has focused on strengthening civil society groups at the local level, working in areas as diverse as rural development, peace building or health care provision. At the same time, international donors have encouraged or initiated (financially or otherwise) solutions to the country’s political transition by supporting the (re)creation of a central authority in a country still very prone to ethnic strife. However, the linking up of these two levels of intervention to achieve positive structural change is not easy, and there remain wide gaps in both the analysis and implementation capacities of all actors involved.