The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is home to vast mineral reserves, including cobalt, copper, and coltan, essential for global energy transition technologies. However, mining and fossil fuel exploration have had severe environmental and social impacts. According to Global Witness, mining-related deforestation in the DRC increased by 20% in the last decade, with over 3 million hectares of forest lost. Additionally, the extractive sector has contributed to water pollution, human rights abuses, and displacement of indigenous communities.
The fossil fuel sector, including recent oil exploration in the Virunga National Park, threatens biodiversity and local livelihoods. The DRC government’s plans to auction 30 oil and gas blocks, including those in protected areas, pose a critical challenge to climate commitments. Women, particularly those in rural communities, bear the brunt of these environmental and economic consequences, yet their voices remain underrepresented in decision-making processes.
GreenFaith DR Congo launch of the Africa Women of Faith in Energy (AWFE) in DRC aims to provide a platform for women faith leaders to amplify their voices in advocating for climate justice and renewable energy solutions. Women of faith play a crucial role in shaping community values, mobilizing grassroots action, and influencing policy changes. This initiative seeks to strengthen their leadership and enhance their participation in addressing the climate crisis.
Objectives
To officially launch & strengthen African women of Faith voices for climate justice project in DR Congo.
- Establish and strengthen DR Congo Women of faith grassroots circle as a network to advance climate justice in DR Congo
- Advocacy for Policy Change: To develop and promote evidence-based policy recommendations & intensify lobby that halt new fossil fuel projects in DR Congo and Africa, addressing the social, environmental, and economic injustices linked to extractive activities.
- Empowerment of Women: To champion women-led, locally owned renewable energy initiatives that are accessible, affordable, and sustainable, enabling women to mitigate the impacts of climate change, land loss, and livelihood disruptions.
- Promotion of Renewable Energy Transition: to facilitate dialogue between policymakers and women of faith and advocate for a just energy transition by highlighting the negative consequences of fossil fuel exploration and emphasizing the benefits of clean, community-driven renewable energy solutions.
Planned Activities/Targets
- Train 50 Women faith leaders to advocate for a just energy transition and stop new fossil fuel development in DR Congo and Africa such as the Stop EACOP project.
- Establishment of DR Congo network of the African women of faith in Energy; trainer of trainers on fossil fuels divestment and climate justice
- Develop a training manual to educate grassroots women on climate justice campaign in DR Congo
- Develop press statements to promote evidence-based policy recommendations that halt new fossil fuel projects in DRC and Africa,
- Social media activation using social media such as X etc
- Distribution of EACOP material to the Women
- Showcase documentaries from DRC (may include, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria) on the effects of Fossil Fuels Exploration in Africa
Expected Outcomes
Project officially launched and Women of Faith in Energy platform established in DRC
- 50 women of faith in DRC capacity built to lead grassroots campaigns to stop EACOP and other fossil fuel projects, promote sustainable energy, and protect vulnerable communities from the impacts of climate change.
- 1 Statement of demands from the Women Faith leaders to the government on policies to halt new fossil fuel development in DRC
- 1 A press briefing with media house
- 1 Women of Faith in Renewable energy Training manual developed
Partners (Local Groups)
Hello, we have just incorporated your comments into the budget. You will find some small changes made following the escalation in security caused by the closure of air transport from Ndji airport in Kinshasa to the city of Goma, as well as the pyschosis that prevented delegates from congo-centrale, Kinshasa and Ituri from attending the launch of the initiative. This means that we will be able to include delegates from Tanganyika province and the territories not yet invaded by the rebels. As far as the budget is concerned, you will find the maximum amount, including the bank withholding, which makes up the same total of 5,000 USD. It should be pointed out here that the geo-administrative realities of the DRC are different from those of other countries, as the territories are a long way from the provincial capital and so the provinces are far from the capital, Kinshasa.
Important note : This is just a reminder about sending funds for the workshop. For a good preparation, please send us the funds beforehand if you like, to facilitate the proper preparation.
Venue
23th-28th February 2025 (Kindly take between those date, as Kenya will be launch 1st and Uganda who had earlier submitted it synopsis)