Eco-DRR Project Fact Sheet Democratic Republic of the Congo
Publisher: UNEP and European Commission
Date: 2017
Topics: Climate Change, Land, Livelihoods, Renewable Resources
Countries: Congo (DRC)
Rich with natural resources, the Democratic Republic of the Congo holds half of Africa’s freshwater sources. However, severe erosion and flooding are creating water-related hazards that impact Kinshasa and surrounding areas. These hazards are exacerbated by heavy rainfall and human activities, such as slash and burn agriculture, deforestation, charcoal making, uncontrolled housing construction near the Lukaya River, one of the main sources of drinking water for Kinshasa. Soil erosion increases sedimentation and reduces water quality, impacting local fisheries, aggravating flooding, and increasing the cost of water purification. Our Eco-DRR strategy applies Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) to harness benefits for disaster risk reduction and improved water quality in the Lukaya River basin. It connects upstream and downstream communities and facilitates dialogue amongst water users of the Lukaya River.