Kilalopress | 26 February 2026 — The Democratic Republic of the Congo has reached a new and significant milestone in advancing climate justice. Meeting on 24 and 25 February at the Cercle ELAIS, sector experts, civil society representatives, technical partners, and public institutions unanimously adopted a final communiqué establishing a National Collaboration Hub for Climate Justice, with a clearly defined mission and mandate.
Held under the high patronage of Marie Nyange Ndambo, Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and the New Climate Economy (MEDD-NEC), the meeting highlighted the central role of the ministry in shaping an effective and inclusive climate governance framework. Since her appointment in the Suminwa II government, Minister Nyange has embodied a renewed momentum—one rooted in a participatory approach that brings stakeholders together around concrete and sustainable solutions for the country.
“Our objective is clear: to create a space where expertise, local initiatives, and institutions come together to build tangible climate justice in service of the most vulnerable populations,” Minister Nyange emphasized in her opening address, underscoring the importance of an integrated vision to strengthen national climate resilience.
The workshop enabled an in-depth analysis of environmental inequalities and governance vulnerabilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Participants included representatives from several ministries—Environment, Hydrocarbons, Mines, Water Resources and Electricity, Human Rights, Agriculture and Rural Development—as well as research centers, the Virunga Foundation, and numerous civil society organizations. This broad participation reaffirmed the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach to addressing the country’s ecological challenges.
Discussions were structured around four main pillars:
- Assessment of the climate justice ecosystem to identify weaknesses, opportunities, and priority areas;
- Establishment of the Collaboration Hub to align diverse actors around shared priorities;
- Definition of strategic orientations for collective learning, integrating environmental governance and the rights of Indigenous Peoples;
- Further deepening of the diagnosis through a complementary study led by partner NGOs.
At the conclusion of the deliberations, a clear consensus emerged: the creation of the Climate Justice Collaboration Hub represents a historic milestone for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Participants praised Minister Nyange’s personal commitment, vision, and leadership, which position the ministry as a strategic driver in structuring and monitoring climate initiatives nationwide.
Particular emphasis was placed on collaboration with the Virunga Foundation, especially within the framework of the Kivu–Kinshasa Green Corridor. This partnership reflects Minister Nyange’s ambition to strengthen innovative and sustainable, field-based solutions—supporting initiatives that combine biodiversity conservation with climate justice for local communities.
The discussions also underscored the need to equip the Hub with strong operational capacities—human, material, and financial—to ensure its effectiveness and nationwide reach. Data gathered through consultations and exploratory research in several provinces will serve as a foundation for developing concrete operational strategies.
In closing the workshop, participants reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the emergence and effective implementation of the Collaboration Hub, anchoring the initiative within a sustainable, multi-actor dialogue process. For the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this moment marks a shift from reflection to concrete action, driven by a ministry that has become central to the definition and implementation of climate policies. Under the leadership of Marie Nyange Ndambo, the MEDD-NEC is becoming more than a ministry: a transformative force, a catalyst for collaboration, and a guarantor of climate justice in the country.
By Asani Musungayi