DRC: UN reaffirms its support for local transformation and youth entrepreneurship

Kinshasa, January 26^th, 2026 (CPA).- The United Nations has reaffirmed on Monday its commitment to support the initiatives promoting the diversification, the local transformation and the youth entrepreneurship in the Democratic Republic of Congo, during a forum organized in Kinshasa by the Deputy Special Representative of the general secretary. ‘On behalf of the United Nations Country Team, I reaffirm our commitment to support peace, (…) we will support initiatives promoting diversification, local transformation, youth entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment,’ has declared Bruno Lemarquis, Deputy Special Representative of the general secretary and Resident Coordinator in DRC. He is keen to encourage responsible value chains, high environmental and social standards, and innovative partnerships that mobilise public and private funding, including at the provincial and local levels. In the face of climate shocks, natural hazards and humanitarian crises, Mr Lemarquis has specified that the urgent need is to increase resilience. ‘We will support climate change adaptation, disaster risk management, food and nutrition security, and early warning systems,’ he has said, arguing that interventions will focus on strengthening the community preparedness, protecting biodiversity and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. «Resilience is not something that can be decreed: it is built on a daily basis, as close as possible to the territories and populations, » he has indicated. ‘We will continue our efforts, with all our national and international partners, to operationalize the humanitarian/development/peace nexus at scale, ensuring the central role of the State,’ has added the Deputy Representative. For him, his approach is resolutely territorialised and inclusive. It is based on local knowledge, provincial and local authorities, and civil society organisations, particularly networks of women, young people and community leaders. It values the expertise of national actors, mobilises the expertise of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, and promotes coherence with government strategies. ‘At every stage, we will ensure accountability and transparency by measuring results and sharing them with citizens,’ he has made clear. In a context of declining official development assistance, he has also called on the various partners to intensify cooperation, to deepen partnerships, to innovate, to pool efforts, to strengthen collective efficiency, and to align resources with national priorities.