The Issue
In Mweso and Kayna health zones in North Kivu, families continue to face the consequences of prolonged armed conflict, displacement and insecurity. Many people have been displaced more than once, losing their homes, livelihoods and essential household items. Others have returned to damaged or destroyed homes and need support to restore a minimum level of safety, privacy and dignity.
The crisis has also increased protection risks for women, men, girls and boys. In areas affected by armed conflict, communities may be exposed to explosive remnants of war and other dangerous items. These risks restrict safe movement, affect daily activities and can put lives at risk.
Families affected by the crisis need flexible assistance to cover urgent priorities, essential household items, safer shelter conditions, protection information and access to community-based services.
The Project
DanChurchAid is implementing a six-month integrated emergency response in Mweso and Kayna health zones, North Kivu. The project aims to reach 103,600 people affected by conflict, displacement and insecurity.
DCA’s response combines multi-purpose cash assistance, shelter and essential household item support, community-based protection services, gender-based violence prevention and response, and explosive ordnance risk education.
Through multi-purpose cash assistance, DCA will support 2,800 households to prioritise urgent needs such as food, health care, transport, household items and other essential expenses. The cash amount will be based on local market prices and the estimated cost of basic household needs.
DCA will also provide shelter-related support and essential household items to 8,100 vulnerable households. Assistance will include basic items for sleeping, cooking, water, sanitation and hygiene, and personal dignity.
The Change
The project is designed to help crisis-affected families meet urgent needs, improve living conditions and reduce exposure to protection and safety risks.
Cash assistance will give vulnerable households greater flexibility and dignity by allowing them to decide what they need most. Shelter and essential household item support will help displaced families, returnees and other crisis-affected households restore safer and more dignified living conditions.
Explosive ordnance risk education will help women, men, girls and boys recognise dangerous items, understand safe behaviour and know how to report suspected explosive hazards. DCA aims to reach 18,242 people through explosive ordnance risk education.
Separately, non-technical surveys will help identify and document suspected hazardous areas, with information shared through established coordination mechanisms for follow-up by specialised actors. Community feedback and complaints mechanisms will help ensure that assistance remains needs-based, accountable and responsive to affected people.
Partners
DCA implements this project as part of a consortium with the International Rescue Committee and the Norwegian Refugee Council. The consortium arrangement supports coordination, complementarity and harmonised approaches across sectors and geographic areas.
About the project
- Full title: Integrated multiesectoral response to save lives and reduce vulnerabilities in Easter DR Congo.
- Timeline: April to October 2026
- Partner(s): International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
- DCA Theme: Save
- Expected number of people reached: 103,700
- Donor: DR Congo Humanitarian Fund
