IRI DRC facilitates meeting with civil society actors on land use planning reforms

On 20 June, IRI DRC facilitated a meeting focused on land and land use planning reforms, which brought together seven representatives of Congo Watch, Support Centre for Sustainable Management of Tropical Forests (CAGDFT), and Geofirst Development. Chaired by Rev. Pastor Eric Nsenga, Secretary of the Office of the Justice, Peace, and Safeguarding of Creation Commission (CJPSC) and Coordinator of IRI DRC, the meeting provided an opportunity for civil society actors to review the progress of land and land use planning reforms, and present their contribution note for the draft law amending and supplementing Law No 73-021 on property, land, and real estate. Following the participants’ call for religious leaders to help advance these reforms, Rev. Nsenga recommended that the Land and Territorial Thematic Working Groups: i) create a roadmap for the involvement of religious leaders in the process; ii) enhance the Contribution Note and seek broader support from civil society organisations; iii) determine the status of the draft Spatial Planning law with a view to engage public institutions. An article on the meeting can be viewed here.