Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) is collaborative framework of programs, plans and activities to conserve a network of Protected Areas disseminated along the shared borders of Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, and together forming a unique ecological unit known as the “Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL)”. 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 transboundary collaboration process started as in early 90s as an informal collaboration mechanism initiated by the rangers charged to monitor the mountain gorillas, but has evolved through a formalization process Including signing of collaborative agreements, and official Ministerial  declarations. This process followed a bottom – up approach recognizing the importance of the accruing benefits at local, national and global levels, it culminated with the negotiation and signing of the GVTC Treaty by the 3 countries in October 2015. Today GVTC is recognized as an Interstate Institution (with diplomatic status) with a clear mandate of sustainable conservation of the wildlife resources and tourism promotion In the GVL. The specific objectives of GVTC as enshrined in the Treaty are:

1. to promote and coordinate conservation of biodiversity and related socio-cultural values within the Greater Virunga Protected Areas Network;
2. to develop strategies for collaborative 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 the Greater Virunga Landscape;
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 harmonize 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 the Greater Virunga Landscape; and
8. to engage in any other activity for attainment of the Treaty’s objectives.

The Treaty provides also a clear governance structure and operating modalities of the following GVTC governance organs:

1. The Summit: Composed of Heads of the 3 Partner States
2. Council of Ministers: comprising Ministers of wildlife conservation and tourism development in the 3 countries [Currently Rwanda is the Chair]
3. Board of Management: comprising each Head of the Conservation institution as well as 1 technical officer from the concerned ministry in the 3 countries
4. The Transboundary Executive Secretariat, whose role is to manage the transboundary collaboration process on a daily basis; it is managed by an Executive Secretary, aided by two Deputy Executive Secretaries, one in charge of Programs, and the other one in charge of Finance and Administration. The ES and Deputies ES are appointed on a rotational basis by the Council of Ministers for 4 year tenure. [The current GVTC Management Team has been appointed by resolution of the last meeting of the Council of Ministers that was held in May 2018, and officially started the duties since 1^st Sept 2018]
5. 4 Regional Technical Committees: (1) Landscape Management; (2) Tourism Development; (3) Community Conservation; (4) Law Enforcement.

Regional Technical Forum of GVTC Partners and Stakeholders that sits once every two years.