Case study: Advancing sustainable development as humanity’s ultimate prevention tool in DRC

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is endowed with enormous human potential and exceptional natural resources. However, political upheaval and conflict have led to one of the most protracted, severe, and neglected humanitarian crises in the world, with 27 million people in need of assistance and close to 6 million internally displaced. The DRC has remained ranked 179th of 191 countries (2021) in terms of human development, and despite recent economic improvements, progress is insufficient to catalyse the major transformations needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Given the presence of multiple competing needs, the Resident Coordinator (RC) performs a ‘triple- hatted’ role – simultaneously advancing development, humanitarian and peace priorities in a coherent way that makes full use of all available resources and partnerships. Never losing sight of the bigger picture – sustainable development under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 – the Resident Coordinator also works to ensure immediate humanitarian, protection, and peacebuilding needs. This case study captures the role of the Resident Coordinator and lessons learned from the Resident Coordinator’s Office in this process.