Global Compact Network RDC and UN Resident Coordinator Align on Strengthening Private Sector Engagement
Global Compact Network RDC and UN Resident Coordinator Align on Strengthening Private Sector Engagement
The Board of Directors of the UN Global Compact Network RDC met with Mr Damien Mama, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator ai, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Monday, 19 October 2026, to explore opportunities to strengthen collaboration between the United Nations system and the private sector in advancing sustainable development.
The introductory meeting brought together representatives of leading companies and business organizations, including Rawbank, Centre Médical Diamant, Airtel, the Federation of Enterprises of the Congo (FEC), Bracongo, FINCA RDC, Vodacom, and Target SARL.
Discussions centred on strengthening partnerships between businesses and UN agencies, promoting responsible business practices, and mobilizing private sector engagement to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the DRC.
Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Development
Participants emphasized the importance of closer coordination between private sector initiatives and UN programmes to maximize collective impact, leverage resources, and develop practical solutions to the country's development challenges.
Waste management and the circular economy emerged as priority areas for potential collaboration. Participants highlighted persistent challenges related to waste collection, recycling, and electronic waste management, underscoring the need for coordinated action involving businesses, recycling operators, public authorities, and other relevant stakeholders.
Environmental education was also identified as a critical driver of lasting change. Participants stressed the importance of engaging young people, schools, and local communities in awareness-raising initiatives that promote responsible waste management, encourage recycling, and foster more sustainable consumption and production practices.
The meeting further explored opportunities to strengthen Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) frameworks and encourage responsible private sector investment that contributes meaningfully to sustainable development priorities.
From Dialogue for Collective Action
Building on the discussions, participants identified several potential areas for future collaboration, including stronger coordination between businesses and UN agencies, the development of collective approaches to waste management, expanded environmental education initiatives, and continued dialogue on creating an enabling environment for responsible business practices.
Mr Damien Mama expressed openness to facilitating greater coordination among UN agencies and exploring opportunities to deepen engagement with the private sector, reinforcing the importance of partnerships in addressing development challenges and advancing shared priorities.
Speaking on behalf of the Board, Mr Christian Kamanzi, Deputy Director General, Rawbank and the Board Chairperson of the Country Network, emphasised the pivotal role of local business leadership in driving sustainable economic transformation across the country.
“Aligning private sector innovation with the United Nations vision in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is essential if we are to address our most pressing social and environmental challenges. This meeting marks a clear commitment from our Global Compact Network Board and participating companies to move beyond high-level dialogue and deliver practical, scalable solutions, particularly in waste management and environmental stewardship, that create long-term value for both business and local communities.”
The dialogue provided an opportunity to identify areas of common interest where coordinated efforts could generate tangible benefits for communities and contribute to the DRC's sustainable development objectives.
Stronger partnerships, shared responsibility for sustainable impact.
The meeting marked a concrete step forward in aligning private sector ambition with the broader United Nations development framework in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. By focusing on practical priorities like circular waste management, environmental education, and robust sustainability frameworks, UN Global Compact Network RDC continues to serve as the critical bridge connecting business strategy with national growth priorities. Moving forward, the Country Network will focus on translating these strategic dialogues into scalable, cross-sector partnerships that deliver tangible economic, social, and environmental progress across the country.
