Uvira, 16 February 2012 – A delegation led by the officer-in-charge of Civil Affairs in the Uvira Office of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), Sud Kivu province, handed over, on 9 February, a batch of computer equipment and a number of office supplies to the civil society coordination of Fizi territory.

According to Armand Forster, the officer-in-charge of Civil Affairs Office, in Uvira, the aim is to strengthen the capacity of this management structure of the civilian population. Along with MONUSCO, the Congolese civil society also plays a cross-cutting role in the protection of civilians, conflict management and resolution, as well as restoration of state authority.

The equipment included computers, printers, one generator, one laminator, one binding machine, tables, chairs, one stabilizer, and one photocopier. It will allow the civil society coordination to work more efficiently, especially in the production of reports.

Pokelin Byamungu, President of this structure, received the equipment in the presence of the civilian territorial authorities of Fizi. This Quick Impact Project could be followed by other projects that MONUSCO is considering in this territory.

It was also in this context that on 10 February, the mission's delegation went to a major market place in the locality of Katanga. This market is a real crossroads between tradesmen from Moyens Plateaux, Fizi-centre, Bukavu, Baraka, Uvira, Ubwari peninsula, and even Tanzania. Despite its size, this centre urgently needs adequate infrastructure that will live up to the trading activities being carried out there. MONUSCO is therefore considering developing another project at this crossroads in order to enhance local capacities.