On January 23, the Kivu Peace and Stability Conference in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) came to a successful conclusion with the signing of a peace agreement between the government and armed factions in the North and South Kivu provinces, improving prospects for peace, stability, and development in this conflict-plagued region.

The peace conference was sponsored by the DRC government and various international donors. Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the German Embassy, DAI—and in particular DAI’s Toby Vaughan—played a key organizing role for the 1,400 participants, who represented government officials, rebel groups, and civil society leaders. Vaughan is Chief of Party for USAID’s Building Recovery and Democratic Governance to Advance and Consolidate the DRC Transition Program (BRDG-ACT).

With the agreement signed, attention now shifts to implementation on the ground. Led by Conference Chairman Reverend Appollinaire Malu Malu, the conference created several commissions to tackle the practical issues of stabilization, development, demobilization of ex-combatants, and humanitarian assistance—issues on which the durability of the settlement will depend.

DAI will play a vital role in this process through technical guidance to these commissions. Meanwhile, BRDG ACT continues to support a host of institutional development and civic engagement activities to advance the peace, transition, and democratization process in the DRC.