Civil society is ensuring that citizens are heard and play a central role in the shaping of policies – the same is true for regional economic integration in East Africa. In 2024, the East African Civil Society Organizations' Forum (EACSOF), supported by GIZ through the EU-Cofunded LIFTED project, witnessed the establishment of a local chapter of EACSOF in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which aims to bring in the voices of Congolese civil society in economic integration in East Africa.
As part of the national CSO engagements in DRC, EACSOF and LIFTED successfully brought together CSO networks representing millions of Congolese citizens for the maiden meeting which ultimately led to the establishment of the EACSOF local chapter.
As the first elected chair of the DRC Chapter of EACSOF, Mr. Cirhuza Lufungulo, a renowned lawyer, expressed his gratitude for the support from the LIFTED project stating, “The backing we have received from the EAC and EU has been instrumental in uniting our efforts and amplifying Congolese voices in the EAC integration process.” Further, he underscored the crucial role of civil society in the EAC integration process. He noted that the advocacy, collaboration, and strategic initiatives by CSOs had not only amplified the impact of formal audits but also fostered greater public support for regional integration efforts.
“These achievements reflect the power of organized civil society in driving positive change and ensuring sustainable development within the EAC framework”, he added.
Since its inception, LIFTED has supported the participation of CSO representatives across the region in national engagements as well as the Secretary General's Forum, a platform that provides direct avenue for citizens to engage with the EAC Secretary General on issues that matter most to them regarding regional integration. These discussions culminated in the submission of recommendations for inclusion in the EAC’s decision-making structures in December 2024.
Ms. Joceline N’Lomba, representing the organisation “Mains de l’espoir pour Alzheimer” (MDEA) from the DRC EACSOF Chapter, highlighted the significance of the Secretary General’s Forum. She observed that the forum had not taken place for more than six years before the project and applauded the Hon EAC Secretary General Veronica Nduva for making this happen for the first time since 2017. “Our discussions during the forum have led to tangible recommendations that are now being considered in the EAC’s decision-making processes. This is a significant step towards ensuring that the voices of the ordinary Congolese people are heard and considered at the regional level”, Ms. N’Lomba added.
Additionally, CSOs from DRC and all other EAC Partner States were able to attend and actively participate in a CSO Technical Working Group Meeting at the EAC Secretariat in Arusha in March 2025. This was the first TWG meeting focusing specifically on CSO contributions to regional economic integration agenda.
Mr. Espoir Bindu, the CEO for DRC-based Center for Development and Enterprise Great Lakes (CDE) observed that ‘’Attending the technical working group session was a transformative experience. The knowledge shared and the connections made will undoubtedly enhance my contributions to our shared goals of the regional economic integration in the EAC’’.
With this kind of efforts, the EAC and LIFTED have demonstrated that with the right support and resources, CSOs can significantly contribute to regional economic integration processes.
LIFTED “Leveraging Integration Frameworks for Trade in Services and CSOs in the EAC,” is a project jointly co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It aims to increase EAC, continental and further bilateral trade with EU in Trade in Services and Civil Society engagement in the framework of the (AfCFTA) for people-centred EAC integration. It is implemented by GIZ in collaboration with the EAC
Find more information on LIFTED here. 
Find more information on EACSOF here. 
Find more information on EAC here.