Small Arms Collection, Repatriation and Reintegration of DRC Ex-Combatants from the Congo

The goal of this programme was to disarm the ex-combatants of the Democratic Republic of the Congo currently in the Congo, repatriate those who are willing, settle locally those unwilling to return and support them in their efforts to reintegrate into civilian life. This action has thereby reduced the risk of spill-over of violence into the still unstable Congo, while helping these ex-combatants reintegrate into their communities of origin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or in the host communities in the Congo, in an economically and socially sustainable way.

The programme had three main objectives:

- collection of at least 3,000 small arms;
- repatriation and reintegration assistance to 5,000 Democratic Republic of the Congo ex-combatants; and
- provision of a viable model for the future DDR process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This project proposal initially focused on an exploratory pilot phase involving some 100 DRC ex-combatants, followed by the repatriation and reintegration of the remaining caseload.

IOM was the overall technical partner while UNDP Congo provided administrative, political and fundraising support. This initial four-month pilot phase of this project was co-funded by UNDP (ERD) and IOM, through respective contributions of USD 50,000 from each of the parties.