DR Congo: Authorities Mobilised for Child Rights-Centred Budget Planning
:By Jean Pie Mukama King, Social Behaviour Change Communication Coordinator
To mark the Day of the African Child 2025, World Vision, in partnership with the Protection Cluster, organised a day of advocacy and strategic dialogue, bringing together local authorities from North Kivu and child protection actors.
Held under the theme: “Planning and Budgeting for the Rights of Children in the DRC: Our Children’s Future Depends on a Shared Commitment”, the initiative aimed to strengthen collaboration between humanitarian actors and political decision-makers around the fundamental rights of children, in the context of a prolonged humanitarian crisis.
The workshop gathered 19 participants, including representatives from local authorities and both national and international organisations such as Un Jour Nouveau, Don Bosco, Save the Children, Heal Africa, INUKA, War Child, and IRC. The meeting provided an opportunity to assess progress made, identify persistent challenges, and propose avenues for greater investment in child protection.
The local authorities’ representative welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed:
“The State’s commitment to actively collaborate with partners to address the urgent needs of children affected by conflict, forced displacement, extreme poverty, and violence.”
A highlight of the day was the testimony of Michaël, 17, a former street child who has become a voice for marginalised youth. His words left a deep impression on the audience:
“I live in eastern DRC, where healthcare is a luxury and schools become shelters. Our future must be planned, funded, and protected – not tomorrow but today. Education, health, hope – these are not options, they are our rights; because we too have the right to a future.”
Several key priorities emerged from the discussions, alongside concrete recommendations:
The need to establish realistic budgets for emergency education, given that over 137,000 displaced children remain out of school.
The immediate closure of brothels exploiting minors, especially girls.
The strengthening of support to reintegration centres such as Don Bosco and Un Jour Nouveau, which are facing a rise in the number of street children.
A call for improved coordination between actors and the use of up-to-date data to inform policy decisions.
“World Vision calls on authorities, humanitarian actors, and communities to go beyond promises and turn every commitment into concrete action. Because investing in childhood is sowing peace, building resilience, and securing the future of a people,” concluded David NGOY, Advocacy and Humanitarian Advisor at World Vision International in the DRC.