Since July 2007, Civil Affairs and other partners, in cooperation with the National Ministry of Planning, have bolstered the efforts of CSOs in the DRC. Consequently, this led to provincial consultations in August 2008 with representatives of CSOs from all the territories, towns and the provincial administration.
Civil Affairs championed the creation of the Civil Society National Symposium held in Kinshasa from 25- 27 May 2009, which included six provincial delegates from each province and over 130 representatives in total. This Symposium resulted in the “Nganda Declaration” that encapsulated three key principles: established a consultative framework for civil society structures, initiated a strategic dialogue on development with institutional and international partners, and assessed aid efficiency, based on the Paris Declaration.
On 12 October 2010, a Civil Society Charter was also proposed and adopted in Kinshasa, DRC. This Symposium also produced a roadmap in adopting these principles nationwide and a similar process is currently being introduced at a provincial level across the DRC.
Civil Affairs developed and maintains in partnership with the Government of DRC’s National Ministry of Planning a Civil Society database. This unique information management system has a registered 2873 CSO across the DRC, which is indispensable as a networking tool for the Mission, Government of the DRC, Civil Society and donors.