120,000 people have been displaced by war since 2009 in the district of North Kivu. Many have had their land taken by force. Villagers cannot afford to go to the courts and some take justice into their own hands. Of the 2,000 local cases that did reach the courts last year only 8 have been resolved - lawyers make too much money from keeping the courts open.

The project will implement a village-level system of justice based on traditional structures, giving local people somewhere to air their grievances – at no cost to them. Three community courts will be set up and a team of voluntary impartial observers will manage the cases. The community courts will span 32 villages. Because they are based on traditional structures and managed by volunteers they will be sustainable for the long term.