Since June of 2009, the Center on International Cooperation (CIC) has entered into a partnership with the Open Society Institute (OSI) in a project which has sought to generate political momentum around a number of critical issues for the future of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Through a workshop series for Congolese civil society and government officials, OSI aimed to open a space for dialogue on contentious issues and develop a framework for subsequent joint action and international advocacy. The primary assumption of the project is that substantial progress in the consolidation of peace in the DRC can only be achieved through overcoming the underlying political obstacles which continue to hinder reform efforts.  The project has sought concrete change on three levels:

• Increasing the strength of civil society’s voice in national decision-making;
• Engaging the Congolese government in a constructive fashion to advance the reform agenda;
• Supporting the international community to overcome bilateral agendas and committing to a coherent and coordinated approach.

The workshop series took place in Kinshasa between September and November of 2009 focusing on four identified thematic areas. In seeking to provide focus from the outset of the workshops, CIC commissioned issue papers to help to identify the main questions to be addressed during the discussions.

Decentralization & Governance 1-2 September, 2009:
Long-standing Congo experts Dr. Herbert Weiss (Woodrow Wilson Center) and Dr. Georges Nzongola (University of North Carolina) co-authored an issue paper entitled, “Decentralization & the DRC – An Overview.” [English - Français]

Natural Resources Management 1-2 October, 2009:
CIC invited Patricia Feeney (Rights & Accountability in Development - RAID) to write an issue paper for the workshop entitled, "Extractive Industries: Their Contribution to the Congo’s Development," [English - Français] along with Peter Rosenblum (Columbia University Law School) who presented a paper entitled, "Transparency and the Mining Contract Review Process."

Justice & Accountability 8-9 October, 2009:
CIC invited both Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the International Center on Transitional Justice (ICTJ) to prepare separate issue papers. HRW provided a reflection entitled, “A Mixed Chamber for Congo?” [English - Français] ICTJ submitted a document entitled,"Les mécanismes complémentaires à la justice pour lutter contre l’impunité en République Démocratique du Congo."

Security Sector Reform 2-3 November, 2009:  
CIC commissioned the African Security Sector Network (ASSN) to write an issue paper on SSR for OSISA’s workshop. ASSN is a network of African experts who provide technical assistance to governments throughout the continent on reform efforts. ASSN appointed Dylan Hendrickson (Kings College – London) and Missak Kasongo (Securitas – DRC) to write this paper, which was entitled “Security Sector Reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Strategic Issues.” [English - Français]

As a result of the fact that the nexus between natural resources and conflict was not taken up by the workshop series in the DR Congo and its important international dimensions, on 3-4 December, CIC convened a group of leading non-governmental experts in a two-part event:  “Practical Mechanisms to Combat the Militarization of Natural Resources in the DR Congo.”  Hosted and supported by the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations and the Open Society Institute, the event was inspired by a CIC discussion paper on this crucial issue for the DRC.

Ultimately, the workshop series should serve as a springboard for an ongoing dialogue amongst Congolese actors seeking to inform and shape the national debate. This process will seek to establish a set of unified messages endorsed by Congolese stakeholders which will enable OSI to impact global strategies on the DRC through high-level advocacy. An international conference is scheduled for March 2010, to examine and share the outcomes of the workshop series.

Mr. Jean-Marie Guéhenno, former UN Under-Secretary-General for Pea-cekeeping Operations and current CIC Senior Fellow, has informally assisted OSI throughout the initiative providing liaison functions with key governments and international organizations.

Steve Hege has coordinated CIC's collaboration with OSI throughout the workshop series.