Comparison with My Country: DRC
1. Natural hazards and climate change impacts
In the DRC, common climate-related hazards include:
Flooding (urban and riverine)
Erosion and landslides
Extreme rainfall and heat
River overflows, especially along the Congo River and its tributaries
Climate change has increased the frequency, intensity, and unpredictability of these events, particularly in urban areas like Kinshasa and in riverine and coastal zones in western DRC.
2. Areas facing the greatest impacts
The most affected areas include:
Urban informal settlements in Kinshasa, built along ravines and flood-prone zones
Riverine communities along the Congo River
Coastal zones in Kongo Central, where mangroves also exist but are increasingly degraded
3. Most affected communities and why
The communities most affected are:
Low-income households
Informal settlers
Fisherfolk and small-scale farmers
Women and children
They are disproportionately affected due to poor infrastructure, inadequate urban planning, weak early warning systems, and limited access to public services. As in the Philippines, these populations contribute very little to climate change but bear the highest costs.
4. Local coping and adaptation strategies
Local responses in the DRC are mostly reactive and community-led, including:
Raising house foundations to avoid flooding
Informal drainage channels
Community solidarity and mutual aid
Small-scale tree planting (though limited in dense urban areas)
Unlike the Philippines case, nature-based solutions such as mangrove or wetland restoration are underutilized, despite their high potential.
5. Institutional and external support
Some support exists from:
Local NGOs and civil society organizations
International NGOs and UN agencies
Government initiatives (often limited by funding and coordination gaps)
However, compared to the Philippines case, community participation, women’s leadership, and long-term ecosystem restoration are less systematically integrated into climate adaptation strategies.
Conclusion
The mangrove restoration case in the Philippines offers valuable lessons for the DRC. It demonstrates that community-led, nature-based solutions can simultaneously enhance climate resilience, alleviate poverty, and empower women. While both countries face similar climate risks, the key difference lies in governance, planning, and community inclusion. Scaling up ecosystem-based adaptation in the DRC—especially in coastal and riverine areas—could significantly enhance resilience while addressing deep-rooted social vulnerabilities.