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Tenders are invited for Integrated Multisectoral Response for Conflict-Affected Populations in the Territories (IMPACT) of North Kivu and Ituri, DRC Closing Date: 20 Jul 2026 Type: Consultancy 1.Background information Background Context The eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly North Kivu and Ituri provinces, continues to face a protracted humanitarian crisis driven by persistent armed conflict, intercommunal violence, and widespread population displacement. Cycles of violence have resulted in massive disruptions to livelihoods, destruction of infrastructure, and weakened social protection systems. Millions of people remain internally displaced or have experienced multiple displacements, often living in precarious conditions with limited access to basic services. The complexity of the crisis, combined with limited state capacity and continued insecurity, requires integrated humanitarian responses that simultaneously address immediate lifesaving needs while strengthening resilience, promoting protection, and supporting recovery and transition toward durable solutions. The Integrated Multisectoral Response for Conflict-Affected Populations (IMPACT) project is implemented by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) with funding from European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO). The project is implemented in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), regions characterized by protracted armed conflict, large-scale internal displacement, protection risks, and limited access to basic services. Through this integrated approach, the project seeks not only to address urgent humanitarian needs but also to strengthen local capacities, improve access to essential services, and contribute to longer-term resilience and protection outcomes NRCs activities and presence The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 2001 and is today among the leading international humanitarian organizations supporting populations affected by armed conflict, forced displacement, and protracted humanitarian crises. Its operations are mainly concentrated in the eastern provinces of the country, particularly North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri, which experience some of the highest levels of vulnerability and displacement on the African continent. NRC maintains an extensive operational presence that enables it to respond rapidly in emergency-affected areas while ensuring close follow-up and engagement with affected communities. The organization implements an integrated and multisectoral approach based on its core competencies: Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA), Education, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Shelter and Settlements, as well as a Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) component. This approach aims to address the immediate life-saving needs of affected populations while strengthening their resilience to recurring shocks. Interventions primarily target internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, refugees, repatriates, and vulnerable host communities affected directly or indirectly by crises. Beyond emergency humanitarian assistance, NRC promotes approaches that support durable solutions to forced displacement and socio-economic exclusion. Through its programs, the organization supports access to housing, land and property rights, access to quality education for children affected by crises, as well as access to water and shelter. NRC also places particular emphasis on inclusion, Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), community participation, and the cross-cutting integration of gender, protection, and risk management throughout its interventions. As a key actor in the humanitarian response in the DRC, NRC plays an active role in sectoral coordination mechanisms at both national and provincial levels. The organization regularly contributes to the work of humanitarian clusters and technical working groups, particularly in the areas of Protection, WASH, Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFI), Education, and Housing, Land and Property (HLP), where it is widely recognized for its technical expertise. Through its analysis and advocacy efforts, NRC also helps bring the concerns of affected populations to the attention of national authorities, donors, and international humanitarian partners. Furthermore, NRC is fully committed to international commitments on the localization of humanitarian aid. The organization works closely with national organizations, community-based structures, and local authorities to strengthen their technical and institutional capacities, promote local ownership of interventions, and ensure the sustainability of achieved results. This partnership-based approach not only enhances the effectiveness of the humanitarian response but also strengthens the resilience of communities facing recurrent crises in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. NRCs intervention specific to the evaluation The intervention is based on an integrated and multisectoral approach, with Education in Emergencies (EiE) serving as the primary entry point for reaching crisis-affected children and their families. This approach is complemented by a package of interventions covering Protection and Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA), Shelter and Settlements (S&S), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), as well as a rapid shock-response mechanism (Crisis Modifier). An additional component dedicated to engagement with Armed Groups and De Facto Authorities (AGDAs), implemented in partnership with a specialized organization, further strengthens the protection and humanitarian access dimensions of the project. The projects Theory of Change assumes that the combined provision of quality essential services in safe environments, together with protection mechanisms, rights-based support, and dialogue with influential conflict actors, contributes to reducing the negative impacts of crises on internally displaced persons and vulnerable host communities. This approach aims not only to address immediate humanitarian needs but also to preserve humanitarian space and create enabling conditions for durable solutions for populations affected by forced displacement. The project primarily targets internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and vulnerable host communities across the intervention areas. Attention is given to school-aged children, women and girls, adolescents, and households facing multiple vulnerabilities related to access to education, WASH services, protection, basic services, and housing, land and property rights. To date, the project has reached approximately 209,348 unique participants, of whom 52% are women and girls, demonstrating a strong focus on the most vulnerable population groups. In terms of intended results, the project seeks to achieve six interconnected outcomes covering: improved access to safe and quality education in emergency settings; strengthened protection and access to rights through legal assistance and community-based protection mechanisms; improved living conditions through dignified shelter solutions; enhanced and sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene services; reduced vulnerability to shocks through integrated rapid-response mechanisms; and strengthened engagement of armed groups and de facto authorities in promoting civilian protection and respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL). These outcomes have been translated into tangible achievements across six technical sectors. Under the Education in Emergencies component (Result 1), more than 53,000 children were enrolled in formal education, over 4,000 children benefited from non-formal education programmes, and more than 77,000 children received school kits, demonstrating significant progress in improving access to and continuity of education. Under the Protection and ICLA component (Result 2), nearly 20,000 individuals received support to obtain civil documentation, while more than 16,000 people were assisted with housing, land and property (HLP) issues. In addition, thousands of community members participated in awareness-raising activities on rights protection and gender-based violence prevention, with support from specialized partners. Under the Shelter component (Result 3), 107 classrooms were rehabilitated or constructed, and approximately 7,680 people benefited from safe shelter solutions. WASH interventions (Result 4) enabled more than 10,000 people to access safe drinking water and nearly 17,000 people to benefit from improved sanitation facilities, complemented by hygiene promotion activities. Through the Crisis Modifier mechanism (Result 5), close to 20,000 individuals affected by sudden shocks received rapid humanitarian assistance. Finally, the AGDA engagement component (Result 6) facilitated awareness-raising sessions, trainings, and dialogue initiatives involving community actors, state authorities, and non-state actors, reaching more than 50,000 people to date. Project implementation has also been characterized by significant adaptations in response to the evolving operational context. A major amendment (MR02) enabled the geographical expansion of activities, increased the number of targeted schools from 49 to 79, and introduced a new component focused on engagement with armed groups and de facto authorities. Several operational adjustments were also undertaken, including the relocation of activities due to security constraints in certain areas. The project further benefited from a No-Cost Extension (NCE) until August 2026, justified by security, logistical, and financial challenges that affected access and implementation in parts of the intervention area. In addition, a Cost Extension (CE) was approved, increasing the overall project budget from EUR 4.5 million to EUR 10.3 million. This additional funding enabled the expansion of the Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4219539/integrated-multisectoral-response-conflict-affected-populations-territories-impact-north-kivu-and-ituri-drc
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