IPRB: Congo Basin Countries

ROC: Publish what you pay - a relevant model for the forestry sector

2006-10-16T00:51:00.000-07:00

If oil revenue remains a murky business, that same is especially true for timber revenues - particularly where losses in the former are offset by income from the later. Although accountability and transparency initiatives remain widely unpopular among a range of private, public - and third sector - actors, Publish What you Pay has met with specific tactical opposition in some Congo Basin countries (for more information see Human Rights Watch website), which can be understood as both a constraint for local activists and an indicator of PWYP's pointed relevance in the context of Central-West Africa. In the case of the forestry sector, which also benefits from public internation lending and investment, actors might consider why the development of a similar model has not been supported or encouraged.

ROC: Map of Phytogeography of Congo

2006-10-15T23:44:00.000-07:00

As indigenous peoples are land-centered, this map is provided for actors in the Republic of Congo to promote a clearer understanding of diversity between communities. Generally speaking, communities that live in areas of seasonally flooded forests, littoral forest and grass plains will have different survival strategies and different needs. Actors should be aware that good programming will be based on a keen understanding of the particularities of a community, including social and environmental factors. The map, together with an understanding of seasonal rainfall patters, is also helpful in determining physical accessibility.

Congo Basin: Geography and Population

2006-10-12T03:29:00.000-07:00

Very general information about indigenous peoples disaggregated by country.

ROC: Cross-border exchanges between Ouesso and East Cameroon

2006-10-11T02:37:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from report published by OECD/INICA (February 2005): The preliminary survey on the Sangha region was carried out by INICA local correspondent Mr. Bimbo Senga and is one of the first surveys launched in the western basin within the framework of INICA’s observation project on cross-border dynamics. It was meant to complement data gathered in the nearby Cameroon – Gabon –Equatorial Guinea cross-border area and provide a more general view of Cameroon’s leading role as a motor for regional cross-border trade and integration... With the breakdown of centralised governments in the 80s, the Congo lost its strategic role as a transit country for goods coming from South Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Chad, further isolating the Ouesso commune from the rest of the country. From that point on, local populations in the Sangha region began developing their own survival strategies based on private initiatives and informal activities with Cameroon as the new supply and distribution center...Through interviews with local actors and direct observations, the survey intended to examine the current situation in the area and voice concrete suggestions on how to improve living and working conditions for the community. More generally, gaining insight on how this particular cross-border area has managed to overcome obstacles due to civil strife, corruption and isolation thanks to local cross-border co-operation may
provide guidelines and tools to be utilized in more problematic regions around the DRC. Key Observations: Urban Centers and Solidarity Networks - The Sangha region is administratively sub-divided into five districts: Mokéko, Pikounda, Ngabala, Sémbé and Souanké. There are three urban centres in the cross-border area: Moloundo and Yokadouma (Cameroon) providing manufactured articles and food stuffs to the Sangha region, and Ouesso (Congo). Because great distances separate the region from bigger cities like Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, it has developed significant regional markets..."

ROC: Le systeme des nations unies au Congo

2006-10-09T07:18:00.000-07:00

ROC: United Nations Development Programme-Congo/Brazzaville Website

2006-10-09T07:10:00.000-07:00

ROC: UNDP partner organizations

2006-10-09T05:17:00.000-07:00

ROC: Chronology of events of 2005

2006-10-09T01:09:00.000-07:00

General background information on political context in Republic of Congo.

ROC: Demographic and health statistics

2006-10-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

Population Reference Bureau website for country statistics in mid-2005.

CAR: General country information

2006-10-07T08:22:00.000-07:00

World Atlas compilation of information about Central African Republic, including maps, history and a short note concerning descimation of indigenous poplations in the 1800's as a result of the slave trade.

ROC: Map

2006-10-07T08:14:00.000-07:00

On of the better general maps of the Republic of Congo from the University of Texas collection.

ROC: Les Depeches de Brazzaville Database

2006-10-06T09:01:00.000-07:00

Includes maps and general information about the Republic of Congo's geography, adminstrative areas, economics, demographics and historical information (in French).

ROC: Ministry responsible for indigenous peoples issues

2006-10-06T08:54:00.000-07:00

Mme Émilienne Raoul, Ministre des Affaires Sociales, de la Solidarité,
de l'Action Humanitaire, des Mutilés de guerre et de la Famille, Republic of Congo. Link to website with contact information, including e-mail and telephone.

ROC: Development Organizations in Congo

2006-10-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

2006 Directory focuses principally on international organizations and agencies. Although CSO development in the Republic of Congo is nascent and capacity of local organizations generally limited, there are between 8 - 12 local NGOs that show promise of sustainability and merit program development and capacity-building support. Donors that seek to strengthen Civil Society are stongly encouraged to cultivate and invest in organizations that demonstrate an unambiguous commitment to neutrality, independence, transparency, accountability and peaceful social change.

CAR: Sustaining environment through indigenous knowledge

2006-10-01T07:52:00.000-07:00

ROC: Local Organization "Azur Developpement"

2006-10-01T07:42:00.000-07:00

Local organization of women working in access to technology and initiatives to support vulnerable populations and children. Apparently working together with Association of Indigenous People in Congo.

ROC: Census of indigenous peoples

2006-10-01T06:08:00.000-07:00

Reported by IRIN in 2003. Excerpt: "...In other news, indigenous populations in the Lekoumou Region of southern Republic of Congo have asked the government to conduct a census of their populations in order to better incorporate them into national development planning. The request came at the conclusion of a human rights seminar for indigenous people, better known as 'Pygmies', held from July 1-3 in Sibiti, the capital of Lekoumou, according to Moke Loamba, president of ADHUC, a national human rights NGO. 'I believe that it is reasonable that we first of all conduct a general census before discussing questions of development that are critical for the survival of pygmy communities which have been terribly marginalised by Bantu peoples,' Denis Toutou Nganiye, president of the Association pour la promotion socioculturelle des pygmees du Congo, told IRIN."

ROC: Country Information & Resources

2006-09-26T21:41:00.001-07:00

ROC: Maps

2006-09-26T21:41:00.000-07:00