Community forestry in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) represents a shift from state-led to community-based management. Based on the DRC 2002 Forest Code and the 2014 Decree, it allows local communities and Indigenous peoples to obtain Local Community Forest Concessions (CFCL). This legal framework grants them the right to manage their ancestral lands and resources in perpetuity.

In multiple Community Forest Concessions (CFCLs), locally elected governance bodies continue to operate effectively after external funding ends.

In Mibenga and Ilinga, community institutions are putting governance into action in ways that directly strengthen both forest protection and local livelihoods. In Ilinga, communities are using RFUK’s ForestLink system to report cases of illegal encroachment as soon as they occur, triggering rapid responses. Working alongside RFUK’s partner GASHE, communities follow up on these alerts by engaging local authorities to halt illegal activities and, where appropriate, ensure sanctions are applied. In one notable case, this process led to an illegal logger being fined 1,500,000 Congolese Francs (approximately £480), showing how community monitoring can translate into real accountability on the ground.

Alongside this protection work, communities are strengthening their financial resilience through Mutuelles de Solidarité or mutual aid groups. These locally run savings and credit systems bring people together around regular contributions into a shared fund, built entirely on trust and collective responsibility. The funds are then carefully managed to respond to the community’s priorities: part is reserved as a safety net for emergencies such as illness or bereavement, part is used to provide low-interest loans that help members start or expand small businesses and part supports the day-to-day running of the group. In Illebo and Ilinga, these mutuelles de solidarité, which were financially and technically supported by RFUK and set by our local partners, have become an important source of stability, enabling members to finance household needs and support a range of community activities. In one example, members have managed to buy household equipment including solar panels, batteries, corrugated aluminium sheets and cookware. The overall Community forest governance structures are also driving investment in essential community infrastructure. Through collective decision-making, communities identify shared priorities and direct their resources toward practical improvements, including storage facilities and livestock initiatives that strengthen food security and income generation.

Across all these activities, regular community meetings ensure that decisions remain inclusive, transparent and grounded in local priorities. Taken together, these examples show how well-supported local governance systems can deliver sustained, community-owned impact and gradually reduce dependence on external assistance.