SNV Congo started off in the eastern city of Goma at the end of 2004. The “second Congo war” had ended two years previously and the democratic transition had started. However the country was not yet entirely at peace and militias and rebel groups kept on fighting, particularly in the eastern part of the country. Due to this political context, early intervention by SNV Congo in Goma was in line with the democratic transition and the SNV strategy at that time was entitled « Connecting Peace with Development ».

In early 2006, DRC formally became an SNV country, administratively connected to the West and Central Africa region through the SNV Office in Cameroon. Following an external evaluation at the end of 2007, the Board of Directors decided to fully invest in DRC as a country programme. At the same time, the Goma portfolio was closed for efficiency and safety reasons. The decision was taken to focus on the Western part of the country where capacity development services are better valued due to more stable context. 

Today the strategic position and choices for SNV’s work in DR Congo are based upon the goals and strategies of the “Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy Plan” which was adopted by the Congolese government in 2007.

Within this framework, and in accordance with SNV strategy around the world, SNV Congo’s strategy concentrates on two impact areas:

·                          Effective, Efficient and Increased Access to, and Delivery of, Basic Services, with a focus on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and renewable energy.   

·                          Sustainable and Equitable Production, Income and Employment for the Poor, with a focus on :

- Forestry; Timber and Non-Timber Forest Products and

- Agriculture value chains

In both impact areas, SNV Congo’s interventions embody the SNV principles of Governance for Empowerment, taking into account gender, social inclusion and leadership.