Sweden, known for its diplomacy of silence and political non-interference, has a strong presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where it focuses on education and the environment. In this Central African country, where the exploitation of natural resources is accelerating deforestation and social inequalities, the Swedish government is providing $7.6 million for the “Fostering Resilience” project.
The four-year initiative, piloted by the non-governmental organization (NGO) Impact, will be implemented in the mining provinces of Ituri and Tshopo (north-east), Lualaba and Haut Katanga (south-east). These areas of the Congo Basin are gradually losing their fauna and flora potential to ever-intensifying industrial activities. In 2022 alone, mining was responsible for the felling of 500,000 hectares of trees, according to the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Impact, which is piloting the “fostering resilience” project.
Sustainable economic development
According to Swedish ambassador Henric Rasbrant this will involve to strengthen the capacity of local communities to restore and preserve their ecosystems and livelihoods through the valorization of indigenous know-how and the development of income-generating activities that respect the environment. For this reason, a number of associations will be providing technical support. These include the Organisation congolaise des écologistes et amis de la nature (Océan), the Programme d’appui aux populations forestières (PAP-RDC) and Action pour le développement et la gestion des ressources naturelles (ADGRN).
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“Due to its abundant reserves of critical minerals, and its forest wealth which contributes to carbon storage, the DRC plays a key role in the fight against global warming. Global attention is focused on critical minerals (cobalt, lithium, etc.), which are essential to the ecological transition. There is therefore an urgent need for responsible exploitation of these minerals, as the impact of mining exacerbates the effects of climate change”, explains Joanne Lebert, Executive Director of the Impact organization based in Ottawa, Canada.
Benoit-Ivan Wansi