The study presents an analysis of the situation of the Pygmies in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including their history and relations with the other, mainly Bantu, populations. It provides a brief description of their lifestyle, their socioeconomic status, and a participatory diagnosis of the key factors that lead to their current impoverishment and marginalization. The study discusses the rationale for protecting Pygmy culture and analyzes the results of the field survey and consultations. Based on this field work, diagnosis and inputs received in the two country workshops, the study presents a number of options and recommendations to address constraints faced by Pygmy communities. The recommendations are not intended as prescriptive, but as options to be discussed and agreed on in the process of preparing a Government Pygmy development program. It develops six priority focal points, or areas of intervention, around which a Pygmy development program could be articulated by the Government. The study concludes with suggestions on institutional arrangements for a long-term phased implementation of such a program.