A document showing recommendations taken from projects delivered in the DRC around displacement caused by conflict. The…
The Democratic Republic of the Congo Hub
The mission of the DRC Hub is to build a proactive operating system to mitigate the impact of natural, man-made and other disasters, some of which have become almost endemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The overall objective of the Hub is to set up a diversified platform of humanitarian actors favouring community-based approaches in their actions towards communities vulnerable to natural and man-made disasters in the DRC.
This objective aligns with the four strategic pillars of intervention: capacity building for members, local humanitarian initiatives (localisation in action), advocacy, and humanitarian coordination.
The Hub is made up of 5 categories of members: national NGOs, international NGOs, the public sector, the private sector and higher education and university institutions, including scientific research centres. The DRC Hub also has 6 ‘sub-hubs’ which cover different geographies across the country
Vision:
To build a more inclusive, independent, proactive and locally-led humanitarian system with collective responsibilities.
Mission:
To build a proactive operating system to mitigate the impact of natural, man-made and other disasters.
Focus Areas:
- Access to Funding for urgent humanitarian needs
- Local decision-making
- Capacity-building for members on localisation and programmatic tools.
- Standardisation of technical tools for implementing the DRF programme (targeting, evaluation)
- Networking opportunities for members and beyond
- Improving accountability through the participative development of policies and procedures
- Technical support for the Start Network in DRC and the co-creation of programmatic tools.
At the beginning we could not imagine that we would help everyone - access to financing, access to resources through the hub mechanisms have contributed to and reinforced trust in the community. Now, we have put in place a system, an approach whereby the mechanisms are dictated by the community.Déocard Chirhalwirwa, President of the board of Democratic Republic of the Congo Hub
Programmes and Initiatives:
- Through the DRF/Start Ready programme, two local members received £525,000, and an international member received £1,125,000 to address river flooding in Kindu.
- The Innovation programme implemented two projects in 2022 and 2023 to rebuild community resilience after volcanic eruptions and displacement.
- From 2023-2024, six members utilized the Start Fund to implement eight rapid-response projects across North Kivu, South Kivu, and Maniema.
- The authorities, CSOs, community leaders, CBOs, representatives of women's associations, youth associations and associations of people with reduced mobility are involved in defining innovative community solutions and preparedness and response plans.
- “Innovating communities to rebuild better" project: Improving knowledge of the risks associated with the effects of the volcanic eruption
- 20,000 people, grouped around 4 community innovators, creation of local spaces for resolving land disputes linked to the volcanic eruption called "Local Peace Paillotes"
- Creation of a pig multiplication centre, a breeding enterprise of pig breeding run by women which strengthens the resilience of communities before and after the volcanic eruption.
- Critical support to displaced and affected populations. In Nyiragongo, 10,772 displaced persons impacted by a cholera epidemic gained access to sanitised toilets, hygiene promotion, water tracking, and dignity kits.
- Improved housing was provided for 200 households (1,400 people) after the Bukavu house fires.
- 2,965 households (1,760 people) affected by the Kalehe floods and earthslides received WASH, shelter, and cash kits in South Kivu.
- Cash and WASH interventions reached 11,500 people in Punia, and Action Aid assisted 6,144 people (1,024 households) in Salamabila.
- Overall, 11,505 households (74,500 displaced persons) impacted by conflict in North Kivu were supported with shelter, cash, and protection kits.
Déocard Chirhalwirwa, President of the Board of Democratic Republic of the Congo Hub
‘Honestly, I can say that it has been a dream realised, because when we started out in 2019, we wouldn’t have imagined that we would have such a wide-reaching hub as we have now.’ Hear from Déocard Chirhalwirwa, President of the board of Democratic Republic of the Congo Hub, as he reflects on the growth and evolution of their hub over the years.
DRC HubSTART FUND ALERTS IN DRC
| Alert name | Alert date | Country | Crisis cause | Alert type | Status of alert | Amount awarded | Agencies funded |
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