The Democratic Republic of Congo is rising from one of the deadliest conflict since World War II. The NGO International Rescue Committee estimates the number of death to almost four million people since 1998 due to direct violence or sanitary conditions induced by the conflict (epidemic, malnutrition etc.).
A political transition process is under way since 2003. In 2005, a new constitution was voted and in 2006 the first free democratic elections in 45 years were organized.
Following the advices of Congolese leaders and a large consultation process, the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars (WWICS) and ESSEC IRÉNÉ launched in January 2006 a series of training retreats to restore and reinforce trust and cohesion between Congolese. This program, the Initiative for a Collaborative Leadership and State Cohesion (ILCCE) is an association under Congolese law. Its missions are:
- Reconstruction of Trust and dialogue between Congolese leaders
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Reinforcement of their conflict prevention and conflict resolution skills
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Establishment of diagnosis and search for solutions
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Cooperative approach to leadership, renewal of state and society
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Advices to leaders in their reconciliation efforts
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Establishment of necessary mediations to prevent the return to violence
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Follow-up on experiences and commitment while answering complementary needs of training expressed by participants.
ILCCE benefits from the support of the Parliament, the Kivu provincial Parliament, members of the central government, the UN and the diplomatic community. Operational support is provided by a UNDP trust fund financed by the European Commission and bilateral cooperation with Canada, the US, UK, Norway and Sweden.
Michel Noureddine Kassa, former OCHA representative in DRC coordinates the ILCCE office on the field with the assistance of Mamie Musasa. The project also benefits from Father Martin Ekwa’s advices and the support of the Negotiators of the World (NDM) services at IRÉNÉ.
There are two different models of workshops: basic training workshops and follow-up workshops. From January 2006 to October 2007, sixteen basic training workshops have been held. The process gathered more than 500 leaders, carefully chosen amongst lists proposed by Congolese personalities for their leverage on DRC’s future and to represent at best the political world as well the security sector and civil society.
Each retreat leads to a follow-up workshop. Five of them were held in Kinshasa, two in Goma. Each follow-up sessions helped participants dealing together with DRC emergency issues and to structure a sustainable space of communication while keeping in mind the necessary achievement of commitments made.
In the Kivu provinces, ILCCE unveiled the often disregarded will of actors to meet and practice mutual listening under impartial auspices. Influent Congolese actors met to exchange frankly and to build a minimal consensus, far away from passion and unleashed hatred.
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Presentation - Workshops - Ressources
