Changing Aid Industry Norms Applying the Market Systems Development Approach to the DRC’s Aid Industry

With crises plaguing the DRC for the last 25 years, the aid industry has become a key player in the Congolese economy. Relief and recovery efforts have become some of the principal drivers of the economy, shifting and shaping the market systems along the way. 

Whilst progress has been made by the humanitarian community to consider market dynamics in their activities and to limit market distortion, more effort is needed to escape the state of protracted crisis and rebuild independent and functioning markets. To that end, the Market Systems Development (MSD) approach can provide valuable lessons on how to sustainably rebuild the market and contribute to the region’s stability.

This report looks at the approach of the ELAN RDC MSD programme to changing aid industry norms in the DRC.