DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO Context and existing response The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is estimated to host a large stateless population, but political instability and the sensitivities have posed challenges to effectively addressing the issue. Currently, in collaboration with NGO partners, UNHCR supports the authorities in North and South Kivu Provinces as well as North and South Oubangui and Tanganyka to improve birth registration and the delivery of civil status documentation for the prevention of statelessness, including through mobile courts. Public awareness-raising activities are conducted at national and regional levels on the importance of birth registration and the risk of statelessness. In addition, UNHCR strongly advocates for the DRC’s accession to the two UN statelessness conventions. Resources would scale up efforts to enhance understanding of the issue and gain political will to address it, which would pave the way for concrete steps towards resolving the situation. Strategy and partnerships UNHCR’s strategy for the prevention and reduction of statelessness focuses on the improved understanding of the statelessness issues in the country, effective promotion of accession to the two UN statelessness conventions and strengthened birth registration. UNHCR will aim to obtain improved data on statelessness and the implications and risks that stem from it, facilitate discussions with key actors from government institutions, UN agencies, and civil society organisations, and support the Government in developing a national action plan to address statelessness. Key to the strategy will be coordination with relevant UN sister agencies and civil society actors, including the National Committee for Human Rights and academic institutions. UNHCR will also engage with key regional organizations where DRC is an important member, such as the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region and Southern African Development Community. Vision for 2019     Accession to the two UN statelessness conventions. Improved quantitative and qualitative data on statelessness available. Improved capacity of the Government to register births among communities at risk of statelessness. Improved capacity of the Government to grant nationality to people who meet the criteria. 11