First Project Directly Financed by DG ECHO to HEKS/EPER Romania Foundation, Implemented in Eastern DRC

Emergency Multi-Sectoral Response to Most Vulnerable populations affected by Conflict and Outbreaks in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Budget: 7M EUR

Areas of intervention: Eastern DRC -> North Kivu, South Kivu and Maniema.

Implementation period: June 2024 to May 2025

Donor: European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO)

Total number of unique beneficiaries, estimated by sector:

1. Support to operations – 48.000

2. Multi-purpose cash transfer – 180.000

Project Summary

This project targets hard-to-reach areas in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and Maniema) to address the basic needs of communities affected by armed conflicts. The interventions, guided by needs assessments, will include emergency improvements to key humanitarian roadways to facilitate the delivery of aid, as well as the distribution of unconditional, multi-sectoral financial assistance. Cross-cutting protection measures will be integrated across all sectors of the project, in line with the “Do No Harm” approach and conflict sensitivity. The specific needs of vulnerable groups (women, children, and people with disabilities) will be addressed.

Coordination with other humanitarian organizations and key local and national stakeholders will ensure accountability, efficiency, and relevance. The project will deliver a locally driven, adapted, coordinated, safe, and rapid response to strengthen the resilience of affected populations. Local capacity-building and peer learning will be promoted through community involvement, collaboration with local authorities, and partnerships with local actors. The action will also aim to minimize environmental impacts, supporting a transition toward sustainable solutions.

Since 2019, HEKS/EPER has developed expertise in accessing hard-to-reach areas in eastern DRC to meet the basic needs of conflict-affected communities. This project will build on that expertise to enhance and expand the humanitarian response, reaching more people in remote areas.

Intervention sectors:

    • Support to operations (pilot project)

The opening of roadways is being carried out to allow humanitarian actors access to the most vulnerable populations in North Kivu.

    • Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA)

Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance enables populations in eastern DRC to meet their essential needs.