GVTC is an Intergovernmental Organization established by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Uganda governed by a Treaty signed on 30th October 2015, whose purpose is to establish a Transboundary Collaboration Framework for programs and activities on wildlife conservation and tourism development in the Greater Virunga Landscape among the Partner States.

This Landscape comprises a total of 7 national parks and 1 wildlife reserve, namely: Volcanoes NP in Rwanda; Virunga NP & Sarambwe Wildlife Reserve in DRC and Mgahinga Gorilla NP, Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP, Rwenzori Mountain NP, and Semliki NP in Uganda.
The GVL is globally recognized as a biodiversity hotspot and habitat for rare and endangered wildlife species, such as mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, African Elephants, Lions, hippopotamus extra with three World Heritage Sites (the Virunga NP, Rwenzori Mountains, and Bwindi NP), two Man & Biosphere Reserves (MAB, namely the Queen Elizabeth NP and Volcanoes NP), as well as RAMSAR sites (Lakes Georges and Edward).

Greater Virunga Transboundary collaboration (GVTC)has the vision of having the Greater Virunga Landscape Protected Areas network together with surrounding landscape conserved sustainably while the goal is sustainable long-term conservation of the Greater Virunga landscape Biodiversity leading to the strategic transboundary collaborative management that improves conservation of the Greater Virunga Landscape natural resources as a long-term outcome.
To achieve all of this, GVTC undertakes various activities and initiates partnerships with a wide range of partners including Partner states institutions, learning institutions, conservations institutions, international organizations, donor communities and community-based organizations as well as private sector.

The Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC)-Executive Secretariat has a diplomatic status in Rwanda like any other international organisation under the framework of a Headquarters agreement signed in December 2013 between the Host Country, the Republic of Rwanda and GVTC Executive Secretariat

The Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) has a mandate enshrined in the GVTC Treaty signed on 30th October 2015, especially in its article 6 about the objectives:
1. To promote and coordinate conservation of biodiversity and related socio-cultural values within the Greater Virunga wildlife protected area network;
2. To develop strategies for Transboundary management of biodiversity
3. To promote and ensure coordinated planning, monitoring and evaluation of implementation of transboundary conservation and development programmes.
4. To promote and coordinate tourism development programmes in GVL
5. To secure sustainable funding for collaborative management of the Transboundary Protected Area Network to promote biodiversity conservation and tourism development in the Greater Virunga Landscape;
6. To enhance and harmonise the generation and sharing of knowledge, experience and best practices for evidence based decision making
7. To Promote and support safety and security of wildlife resources and tourists within GVL
8. Engage in any other activity for attainment of treaty objectives
The mandate is implemented in accordance with the following guiding principles:
a) Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of partner states
b) Equal status and treatment of partner states
c) Poverty reduction and sustainable livelihood improvement
d) Sustainable Development
e) Community Participation
f) Research-based decision making

The Vision of Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) is to have the Greater Virunga Landscape Protected Areas network together with the surrounding landscape conserved sustainably

The goal of Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration is the Sustainable Long term Conservation of the Greater Virunga landscape Biodiversity, while the long-term outcome is Strategic Transboundary (TB) Collaborative management that improves the conservation of the Greater Virunga Landscape natural resources