Natural resources, development, security, and good governance are inextricably linked in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). For many years, and particularly since the early 1990s, the DRC has undergone massive political strife, armed conflict, and population displacements, with severe humanitarian consequences. While hostilities have revolved around political and ethnic struggles, natural resources have inspired, fueled, and sustained the power clashes, particularly in the east of the country.

The DRC’s new government faces the challenge of ending continued violence in the east, rebuilding the country after years of neglect and violence, and meeting the basic needs of citizens.

Although the DRC’s forests and biodiversity have the potential to contribute to national, local, and global welfare, this potential is hampered by threats including the incursion of subsistence agriculture into forest lands and protected areas; unsustainable and illegal logging practices; the expansion of mining into biodiversity reserves; commercial trade in bushmeat and protected species; erosion of traditional forest rights, which hurts forest communities and indigenous people; and the continued presence of armed troops in many protected areas.

Against this backdrop, DAI has been asked to conduct an assessment that will:

Facilitate USAID Mission planning by framing new program options to address tropical forest and biodiversity issues, and identifying opportunities to integrate these issues into Mission activities;

Inform Mission staff, the DRC government, and others regarding present trends, threats, opportunities, and data on the DRC’s tropical forests, biodiversity, and environmental issues;

Facilitate donor collaboration by helping USAID understand its programming vis-à-vis other donors and partners; and

Serve as a vehicle for cooperating with and building the capacity of DRC institutions pertinent to biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation.

DAI’s assessment will identify actionable, practical activities to strengthen environmental management and conservation activities across the DRC, while at the same time identifying opportunities to integrate tropical forest work and biodiversity into the Mission’s rural development programming.