The Role of OCP and the STAREC Peace Restoration Program

STAREC is an international peace program which works with many different UN agencies including, UNESCO, International Organization of Migrations, UN-Habitat, World Food Program, United Nations Program for Development, Provincial Government, Mambasa Civil Society and other local NGOs.

Within the peace restoration program under STAREC, the main objectives include democratic dialogue among the population, restoration of state authority, and community development. These objectives are pursued through activities either conducted in synergy between various organizations or through individual organizations.

Through democratic dialogue, people gather together and discuss the causes of insecurity and potential solutions. Insecurity covers a broad spectrum, including all forms of misunderstandings among people and all forms of threats on natural resources. Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) has been chosen to work alongside the Wildlife Conservation Society, under the direction of UNESCO, for democratic dialogue in villages situated along the Mambasa-Niania road (the main road through the Reserve). OCP is represented by M’Monga Kiete, Assistant Director of Education, whose involvement is being generously sponsored by the Houston Zoo.

During the first phase, three public meetings were organized in Epulu, Salate and Bandisende with 452 people participating. The problems they felt that contribute most to insecurity include; unemployment, armed groups, unclear boundaries of the Reserve, insufficient public awareness campaigns, crop raiding by wildlife, and insufficient collaboration of Reserve managers with other administration leaders. To read more click here.