Members of the consortium express solidarity as they develop a shared action plan for citizen engagement at the local level
Success Story
Young Civic Leaders Join Forces to Promote Democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Despite being among the world’s richest countries in natural resources — many of them essential to today’s global technologies — the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to face deep challenges that affect everyday life for its citizens. Escalating insecurity, poverty and climate shocks have widened the gap between the country’s vast potential and the lived reality of many Congolese communities. In this context, Congolese civil society plays a vital role in elevating citizens’ voices and ensuring that decisions affecting communities are shaped by those most impacted.
Across the country, Congolese civil society organizations are stepping forward to address the rising challenges in the DRC. Yet many of these efforts have historically taken place in isolation — limiting their ability to scale impact at a moment when coordination and collective action are more necessary than ever.
Recognizing the power of collaboration, NDI supported an effort to bring together civic actors and convened its partners Fight for Change (Lutte Pour le Changement - Lucha), Filimbi, and Youth for Peace, to lead the charge.
Building a sustainable and mission-driven consortium around shared priorities
In November 2025, NDI organized a strategic planning and coalition-building workshop in the capital Kinshasa, during which NDI’s three partner organizations worked together to craft a common action plan with both short and long-term goals and activities within a well-coordinated consortium.
Thanks to interactive exchanges during the workshop, participants arrived at a clear consensus that collective action and solidarity are essential to scale up their impact and support meaningful democratic development in the DRC. Based on this shared understanding, participants agreed on two thematic priorities to guide upcoming interventions: supporting peace and security, and fostering community engagement, trust and citizen participation at the local level. They also formulated a coherent and strategic action plan around those two themes and committed to demonstrating youth leadership as agents of civic and political change in their communities.
Participants identify core priorities for their shared action plan through group brainstorming
The November workshop also enabled participants to build a collective vision for their consortium and determine its internal organization. Participants mapped organisational assets and identified their respective strengths and limitations, as well as complementary skills and areas of expertise for mutual support. By combining assets and efforts — and identifying ways to mobilize additional resources to implement a short-term collective action plan — the consortium is better positioned to deliver meaningful, collective impact in support of its mission.
Joining forces and combining their skills and networks to move forward collectively, the consortium plans to conduct several initiatives within the next six months. Planned activities range from sensitization campaigns on local governance issues to trainings on the youth, peace and security agenda, to coordinated advocacy efforts engaging political actors and development partners. These activities aim to strengthen collaboration between young civic leaders and decision makers, elevate citizen priorities and reinforce democratic accountability at the local level.
By convening trusted partners, facilitating strategic alignment, and investing in Congolese leadership, NDI is helping turn shared values into coordinated action. Together, these youth-led organizations are demonstrating that democracy is not only defended at the ballot box, but built every day through participation, solidarity, and the courage of citizens determined to shape a more peaceful, inclusive and democratic future for the DRC.
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