Promising Signs for a Renewed DDR Program in the DR Congo

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000183 SIPDIS AIDAC SENSITIVE SIPDIS AID/W FOR AFR/EA, AFR/SD, AA/DCHA, DCHA/OFDA, DCHA/CMM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MOPS PGOV MARR KPKO CG SUBJECT: Promising Signs for a Renewed DDR Program in the DR Congo ¶1. SUMMARY: A critical component of international support for the peace process in Eastern Congo is support for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) of combatants. There are promising signs that the GDRC and World Bank are close to resolving long outstanding issues and nearing agreement on a $72.5 million package that will advance the DDR process in the DRC. Given the enormity of the needs, additional resources will likely be required for DDR and related activities. End summary. ¶2. BACKGROUND: Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) activities in the DRC have been in a state of institutional flux. The Multi-Country Demobilization Program (MDRP) was launched in 2002, following the Sun City accords and the establishment of the National Program for DDR (PNDDR) that same year. The PNDDR was funded by a $107 million IDA grant, and parallel $100 million MDRP Trust fund grant. To date, 102,181 adult ex-combatants have been demobilized under the program, but 40,000 have yet to receive reintegration services: 9,000 in North Kivu, and 8,000 in South Kivu. The original MDRP funding has run out and discussions between the GDRC and the World Bank for a new phase of the program have been stalled for several months over issues of financial and administrative management. ¶3. According to the World Bank Task Manager for the MDRP, negotiations for a new phase of the MDRP are set to resume in the coming days. World Bank concerns over the process of selecting the National Director of the new DDR implementing agency (UEPN-DDR) will be addressed by the GDRC's commitment to select a chief operating officer following World Bank recruitment standards. It is this chief operating officer who will share signature authority with the Bank. Once this is agreed by the GDRC, the World Bank is prepared to accept as adequate the GDRC's progress to date in reimbursing funds that were not adequately accounted for under the earlier phase of the MDRP. Successful negotiations will likely lead to World Bank Board approval for phase 2 of the MDRP at their March 19 meeting. The program includes $50 million in World Bank funding and $22.5 million from the African Development Bank. This phase could be operational as soon as April. ¶4. The GDRC, World Bank and other donors have agreed to a mapping exercise to validate the targeting of MDRP resources. Originally, the MDRP was designed to address the DDR requirements for groups that were signatories to the Sun City Accords. Already, there is a significant caseload of program participants throughout the Congo, many of whom have not received all of the benefits to which they were entitled. With the anticipated increase in caseload resulting from the Kivus Conference agreements, it is likely that additional resources will be needed for reinsertion activities. This will become clearer in the coming weeks, based on the mapping exercise. In addition, sustainable reintegration of ex-combatants, as well as returning IDPs and refugees, will require programming that goes beyond the scope of the MDRP and the PNDDR. ¶5. USAID has reserved limited resources for reinsertion and reintegration activities in North and South Kivu. Post will monitor developments with the PNDDR and MDRP and consult with other donors to leverage support for these programs. ¶6. (SBU) Comment: It now looks as though the MDRP will come back on line in time to address pressing DDR requirements, though additional resources may be required over time to respond fully to the reinsertion and reintegration requirements emanating from the Kivus peace agreements. Assuming that the GDRC-World Bank negotiations are successful, Post recommends unequivocal support for the extension of the MDRP, with encouragement to the World Bank to resume activities as soon as possible. End comment. GARVELINK