One Basin, One Vision: The Congo Basin’s Path to Rights, Livelihoods, and Impact Towards 2030

The Congo Basin, home to one of the world’s largest tropical forest ecosystems, plays a critical role in global climate regulation and biodiversity conservation. Indigenous Peoples and local communities have long served as the primary custodians of these territories by sustaining forests, protecting biodiversity, and preserving knowledge systems rooted in generations of lived experience. 

Partnership Achievements and the 2030 Vision

Over the past four years, the partnership between REPALEAC, Rights and Resources Initiative, and CLARIFI has delivered measurable impact across the region. Partners have advanced tenure security for approximately 1.4 million hectares and strengthened governance systems across 17.36 million hectares in Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of the Congo. This includes progress in rights-based conservation monitoring, community training, and livelihood support.

Building on these achievements, the partnership is also advancing REPALEAC’s 2030 Vision and broader regional advocacy goals. By 2030, the aim is clear. Indigenous Peoples and local communities across the Congo Basin should be fully recognized and supported through coordinated partnerships and sustained financing that secure rights and deliver climate and biodiversity outcomes. This includes securing tenure rights for an additional 6 million hectares and expanding governance support to communities across the Basin. Achieving this goal requires stronger and more diversified donor investment, with particular attention to direct support for women and youth-led organizations.

Learning, Lessons, and Community-Led Practices

It is this long-term vision which shaped the recent “One Basin, One Vision: The Congo Basin’s Path to Rights, Livelihoods, and Impact Towards 2030” convening in Kinshasa. Co-organized by RRI, CLARIFI, and REPALEAC, the gathering brought together Indigenous and local community leaders, community practitioners, government representatives, and regional institutions. It also reflected on more than a decade of collective engagement in the region, marked by sustained advocacy for legal reform in complex political contexts.

The gathering began with a regional learning exchange among CLARIFI partners working across the basin. On March 9 and 10, 2026, participants came together to share knowledge and experiences on project implementation, good practices, and key challenges. Discussions focused on strengthening land tenure security, improving livelihoods, advancing conservation, promoting rights, and reinforcing organizational capacity. These exchanges also highlighted that there is no single model that works everywhere. Progress depends on flexibility, trust, time, and leadership rooted in the diversity of communities.  

The structure of the exchange created space for both reflection and forward-looking dialogue. It moved from exchanges on project implementation (by highlighting achievements and challenges) to deeper discussions on organizational strengthening, women-led initiatives, and peer learning. Participants also shared practical advice, reflected on lessons learned, and worked collectively to identify common priorities and recommendations for the future.At the same time, it also created an important moment to recognize and celebrate the tangible impact already achieved through community-led efforts across the region.

Discussions also focused on regional coordination mechanisms, with participants exploring how to better align efforts, strengthen partnerships, and develop financing approaches that ensure resources effectively reach Indigenous Peoples and local communities. A dedicated panel with donors encouraged an open and constructive dialogue on improving access to funding for Indigenous Peoples and local communities in the region, with a strong emphasis on accessibility, equity, and removing existing barriers. Encouragingly, the forum highlighted that concrete plans are emerging to deliver on global commitments within the Congo Basin region, reinforcing a shared sense of momentum and accountability.

Partners also shared lessons grounded in their day-to-day work during a panel hosted by CLARIFI Director Deborah Sanchez. These insights underscored what it takes to translate principles into practice on the ground.

A few key lessons learned included:

1. Free, Prior, and Informed Consent processes, combined with strong conflict management, are essential for maintaining community cohesion during and after projects.
2. Collaboration with political, administrative, and customary authorities strengthens mobilization, advocacy, and implementation.
3. Engaging neighboring communities helps prevent conflict and supports long-term sustainability.
4. Using local languages improves understanding, participation, and meaningful consent.
5. Transparency and clear information sharing build trust among communities and stakeholders.
6. Local focal points are critical for maintaining access and continuity in remote areas.
7. Projects aligned with community priorities generate stronger ownership and support.
8. Multi-stakeholder collaboration increases impact and creates valuable synergies.
9. Flexibility and adaptive planning are essential in unstable or rapidly changing contexts.
10. Gender inclusion requires intentional and inclusive communication to ensure broad community support.
11. Participatory tools, such as community mapping, help design realistic and locally grounded interventions.

Strategic Partnerships and the Path Forward

From March 11–12, 2026, the convening expanded to bring together Indigenous leaders, government representatives, and institutional partners to align around a shared regional vision for 2030. The Strategic Partnership and Donors Forum opened by underscoring the vital role of Indigenous Peoples in the Congo Basin and featured the unveiling of REPALEAC’s ambitious 2030 Vision to strengthen Indigenous leadership across the region.

A clear message emerged from the variety of exchanges throughout the week: achieving these ambitions will require translating commitments into sustained, accessible, and equitable funding for Indigenous Peoples and local communities.