RCA. Reinforcing inter-communitarian peace is the priority in the South-East

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marker icon Central African Republic   
30-06-2020 | di COOPI

RCA. Reinforcing inter-communitarian peace is the priority in the South-East

Central African Republic – Since December 2019, COOPI - in consortium with ACTED, Concern Worldwide, IMPACT Initiative, OXFAM and Free Press Unlimited – implemented the European Union funded project “ I LA TENE TI TO NA MBONGO - Tous ensemble pour le sud-est »  with the general objective of renewing the  social contract between institutions and communities and supporting peace.

The project, implemented in five regions in the South-East of the country (Ouaka, Haute Kotto, Basse Kotto, Mbomou, Haut Mboumou) will address 149,128 people among displaced, returned and hosting communities. The aim is to support their reconciliation using a communitarian approach. 

RCA President, Faustin Archange Touadera, at the opening ceremony for the project

The consortium will implement a holistic approach in all the intervention cities, acting in different fields of action:

- economic recovery;

- water, hygiene and sanitation;

- protection, reconciliation, peace;

- local authorities’ support.

To strengthen the livelihoods and resilience of local economic actors, COOPI will distribute start-up and recapitalisation kits to the beneficiaries living in the four intervention areas (21 cities in total). Also, it will identify 60 infrastructures’ projects to realize or rehabilitate to encourage and facilitate access to collective savings initiatives. Finally, COOPI will hold professional training for young people and a literacy course.

Representatives for EU, ACTED and the Communications' Minister, Maxime Kazagui

COOPI will rehabilitate and build wells to give access to communities to good basic social services. Besides, COOPI will promote hygiene in both communities and schools and strengthen communities’ capacities to manage water points. 48 separate latrines will be built in schools, health centres, bus stations and markets.

COOPI wants to reinforce inter-communitarian links. It will support 400 socio-cultural and recreational associations so that women and young people can take part in the peace process and the communitarian dialogue. In the meanwhile, COOPI will support the creation of 21 local Peace and Reconciliation Committees following the norms implemented by the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Well built in Kombali

Finally, to strengthen local authorities’ capacities and decentralized technical services, COOPI will support 21 administrations. COOPI will help local coordination organisations to guarantee the activities’ supervision and the involvement of the national parties. It will also facilitate involved Ministries’ field supervision to ensure their full involvement in the return and stabilisation process.

The 2012-2014 political and security crisis contributed to weakening the already fragile social and economic activities and infrastructure. RCA returned to constitutional order in 2016. In 2019, a political agreement on peace and reconciliation paved the way for a long-lasting solution to the crisis. Nevertheless, the South-East prefectures still do not receive support from the local government. The project funded by the European Union's Fonds Bekou will renew the social contract between the State and the population, encouraging the dynamics for the consolidation of peace in the country.