Review of NRCs Urban Assistance in Goma, DR Congo

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) undertook a pilot programme in 2014 to respond to urban displacement in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). NRC commissioned a review of the pilot in order to generate lessons to support the further development of their programming in Goma and elsewhere. 

NRC developed the pilot intervention to support an integrated response to urban displacement in Goma and to facilitate local integration as a durable solution for vulnerable internally displaced persons (IDPs). Host families and vulnerable residents were also assisted. The pilot programme, funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA) took place between June 2014 and Dec 2014, with final monitoring and data analysis occurring in January 2015. The intervention took place in two quartiers of Goma – Kyeshero and Mabanga Sud. 

The design of the pilot was based on a multi-sector profiling and needs assessment of urban IDPs and host families.1 The pilot had three objectives – contribute to improving accessibility and accountability of government actors, increase preparedness for new displacement and improve the capacity of persons affected by displacement in urban areas to their basic needs (through cash transfers). 

The purpose of the review is to provide NRC and NMFA with lessons that can support the further development of the urban pilot response, which will continue in 2015, as well as inform NRC’s global learning. The focus was on generating practical, reliable and relevant analysis, and on creating a process whereby NRC was involved in the data collection and analysis. This is not an evaluation of an intervention, but rather a review focused on practical lessons and evidence.