Everything you do 'for me' without me, you do against me.

The eastern provinces of DRC have been at the centre of one of the world's most challenging crises for over 20 years, with over 
26 million people in need of assistance and protection. 
In October 2022, Ground Truth Solutions talked to over 1,100 people who obtained humanitarian aid in the country’s eastern provinces where most humanitarian activities focus: Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. We spoke to internally displaced people (IDPs) living in and outside of camps, returnees, and people in host communities to find out what they think about how humanitarian aid is implemented, and to what extent it works for them.

The report is structured around the following five key results:
1- People do not think their opinions matter: Crisis-affected people in the Democratic Republic of Congo often feel humanitarian actors see their perspectives as irrelevant. Community members are keen to participate in the decisions that affect them, but often 
have no way to share their view besides posting feedback into boxes.
2- Less than half say their needs are met. Only one in five people see a future without aid.
3- People demand fair aid and better kept promises. Communities would like a more holistic approach to identifying those who need aid most. They are frustrated by answering questions and never hearing back.
4- Communities should drive the prioritisation of protection and safety. In the midst of the "protection crisis" in eastern DRC, only 41% of the people reported that their communities had been consulted on protection risks they face.
5- Involving a few local authorities is not enough. People we spoke with emphasised the need for humanitarian organisations to engage with the entire community, and to develop strategies and programmes collaboratively rather than by relying on a few 
local leaders to determine the needs and priorities of the population.