EcoAct-Congo is an independent action-research network that generates knowledge and supports public policy, economic initiatives and social actors in order to promote a just and sustainable ecology in the DRC. Rejecting a fragmented view of the environment that considers resources in isolation, the network analyses the links between the environment, communities, territories and environmental justice through field research conducted with local communities. Founded in 2025, EcoAct-Congo seeks to link research, public debate and action around the socio-ecological transformations currently taking place in the DRC.
EcoAct-Congo produces rigorous, action-oriented knowledge to inform public policy, economic strategies and local initiatives relating to the environment and natural resources in the DRC. The network carries out action research, provides scientific support, strategic advice, studies and expert analysis, as well as training and capacity building. It fosters dialogue between researchers, public decision-makers, civil society organisations, local communities and indigenous peoples to promote fairer, more inclusive and sustainable forms of environmental governance.
EcoAct-Congo focuses on the interrelationships between the environment, the economy, territories and governance in the DRC. The network analyses issues relating to water, forests, biodiversity, land policies, agriculture, mineral resources, energy and hydrocarbons as deeply interconnected territorial challenges. Its research focuses in particular on the social and environmental impacts of extractive activities, rural transformations, conservation policies, territorial conflicts and ecological transitions affecting local communities and indigenous peoples.
EcoAct-Congo conducts interdisciplinary research based on in-depth field surveys with the aim of promoting environmental governance that takes into account all territories and living environments, rather than a fragmented approach to resource management. The network focuses primarily on agriculture and land use, water and aquatic environments, energy and hydrocarbons, forests and climate, mineral resources, and environmental governance. It also supports public policy, builds the capacity of local stakeholders and fosters public debate.
EcoAct-Congo’s approach is based on scientific rigour, interdisciplinarity and a strong local presence. The network conducts in-depth field research, sometimes lasting several months, to understand the local realities, power dynamics, conflicts and forms of cooperation that shape environmental change in the DRC. Convinced of the limitations of macro and generalised approaches, EcoAct-Congo prioritises a detailed understanding of local areas to produce analyses and solutions capable of delivering effective and sustainable change. The network also regards local mobilisations and struggles as essential learning spaces for devising fairer reforms.
EcoAct-Congo seeks to move beyond economic approaches that view territories solely as spaces for growth and resource exploitation. The network advocates a vision that recognises territories as places of life, memory, social relations and ecological interdependence, rather than as a mere juxtaposition of isolated resources. This fragmentation often serves to reinforce extractive dynamics, institutional weaknesses and territorial inequalities. EcoAct-Congo thus aims to contribute to the development of an ecological perspective capable of shedding new light on public policies, economic initiatives and debates on the ecological transition and environmental justice in the DRC.
