DRC: Congolese stakeholders commit to the Women, Peace, Security and Environment Nexus

Kinshasa, October 7, 2026 – Institutional stakeholders, civil society organizations, academics, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and development partners gathered in Kinshasa on October 6–7 for the national launch workshop of the REACT programme.

Implemented by the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation and CBCS-Network, with support from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the REACT programme aims to strengthen women’s participation and leadership in environmental peacebuilding, natural resource governance, and climate action in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants adopted a joint declaration calling for stronger integration of the Women, Peace, Security and Environment Nexus into public policies and sustainable development programmes.

They notably called for greater participation of women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples in decision-making processes; improved access for women to climate finance; greater representation of women in climate negotiations; and strengthened prevention and protection mechanisms against gender-based violence linked to environmental and climate crises.

Participants also committed to developing a joint advocacy roadmap to translate the workshop’s recommendations into concrete actions and reforms for the 2026–2028 period.

 The REACT programme therefore marks an important step towards more inclusive environmental governance, where women are recognized as key actors in peacebuilding, climate action, and sustainable development in the DRC.

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