DRC Virunga Alliance

Located in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Virunga National Park is the oldest and most biologically diverse protected area in Africa. The park is situated in a region that has been deeply impacted by armed conflict for several decades. The park continues to be threatened by insecurity, including activities such as illegal poaching.

The park is protected by a dedicated team of roughly 700 Rangers, who risk their lives to protect Virunga’s incredible array of wildlife, including its endangered mountain gorilla population, and the approximately 5 million people that live within a day’s walk of the park’s boundary.

The Virunga Alliance (VA) is an ambitious public-private partnership that is responding to these challenges and working to bring peace and prosperity to the region through the responsible and sustainable development of the park’s resources. Its vision is to reduce poverty by delivering large-scale economic opportunities for the local communities surrounding the park in the areas of hydropower, sustainable agriculture and fisheries and tourism.