International Alert Shifts to Locally-Led Partnerships in DRC Peacebuilding
International Alert outlines its strategic transition in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from traditional local implementation models to genuinely locally-led partnerships. The organization argues that sustainable peacebuilding in the complex DRC context requires deep roots in local realities, with national actors defining and managing interventions. This approach moves beyond transactional contractual arrangements to foster long-term relationships based on trust, complementarity, and mutual recognition of expertise. In 2025, International Alert supported the National Council of Forums of Humanitarian and Development NGOs in DRC (CONAFHOD) in implementing a comprehensive framework for contextualised localisation, focusing on skills transfer in conflict sensitivity and analysis. The shift involves joint context analysis, collaborative project design, and increased participation of national partners in governance mechanisms. Initiatives like the EU-funded Nashiriki kwa Masikilizano project exemplify this dynamic, empowering local civil society organizations to drive community resilience. By prioritizing the leadership and legitimacy of local actors, International Alert aims to transform them from mere implementers into drivers of social cohesion and sustainable peace, addressing power imbalances inherent in previous humanitarian and development structures.
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International Alert Shifts to Locally-Led Partnerships in DRC Peacebuilding
International Alert outlines its strategic transition in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from traditional local implementation models to genuinely locally-led partnerships. The organization argues that sustainable peacebuilding in the complex DRC context requires deep roots in local realities, with national actors defining and managing interventions. This approach moves beyond transactional contractual arrangements to foster long-term relationships based on trust, complementarity, and mutual recognition of expertise. In 2025, International Alert supported the National Council of Forums of Humanitarian and Development NGOs in DRC (CONAFHOD) in implementing a comprehensive framework for contextualised localisation, focusing on skills transfer in conflict sensitivity and analysis. The shift involves joint context analysis, collaborative project design, and increased participation of national partners in governance mechanisms. Initiatives like the EU-funded Nashiriki kwa Masikilizano project exemplify this dynamic, empowering local civil society organizations to drive community resilience. By prioritizing the leadership and legitimacy of local actors, International Alert aims to transform them from mere implementers into drivers of social cohesion and sustainable peace, addressing power imbalances inherent in previous humanitarian and development structures.
International Alert