Enviro News Asia, Kinshasa — The Steering Committee of the initiative supporting civil society in decentralized monitoring of REDD+ projects held its second meeting on 12 February 2026 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The meeting concluded with the formal approval of the project’s 2026 annual work plan and budget, marking an important milestone in the implementation of the Support to Civil Society for the Decentralized Monitoring of REDD+ Projects and Programs in the DRC (SC-REDD+) initiative.
Based on the approved plan, activities in 2026 will focus on strengthening institutional governance, improving decentralized forest monitoring systems, and building the technical capacity of civil society organizations across multiple provinces.
These efforts aim to reinforce the meaningful participation of Congolese civil society in the REDD+ process while promoting greater transparency and accountability in forest governance. The initiative also seeks to ensure that climate and anti-deforestation programs provide equitable benefits for communities that depend on forests.
The SC-REDD+ project is a three-year initiative implemented by a consortium that includes the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the Renovated Climate and REDD+ Working Group (GTCR-R). The REDD+ framework—Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation while enhancing forest carbon stocks—is a global climate mitigation mechanism developed under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Funding for the project is provided by the Central African Forest Initiative through the National REDD Fund (FONAREDD). The initiative aims to strengthen the role of civil society in shaping effective forest policies, implementing anti-deforestation actions, and ensuring that forest-dependent communities benefit from conservation initiatives.
The Steering Committee meeting was chaired by Pascaline Mbangu Kikumbi, President of the Steering Committee and Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development, and the New Climate Economy (MEDD-NEC). Members participated both in person and online, reflecting a hybrid and inclusive governance approach.
Bavon N’Sa Mputu Elima, National Executive Secretary of FONAREDD, also played a key role in the discussions. The committee reviewed the implementation of activities carried out in 2025 and examined the proposed 2026 work plan and budget. Participants discussed institutional arrangements, operational frameworks, communication strategies, and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
The meeting also assessed progress made in implementing recommendations from the first Steering Committee meeting, which took place on 3 October 2025. (*)
