Photo: ©WFP/Michael Castofas

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) hosts over 7 million forcibly displaced people, including 500,000 refugees and 6.7 million internally displaced Congolese. Refugees in DRC have fled conflicts in neighbouring countries such as the Central African Republic, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Burundi. The country’s widespread and protracted humanitarian crisis has severely affected lives and livelihoods, contributing to one of the largest hunger emergencies globally. In 2024, more than 25 million people in DRC faced acute food insecurity. 

JOINT HUB SUPPORT 

The Joint Hub has been supporting WFP and UNHCR in the DRC to develop a shared understanding of the food and socio-economic needs of Burundian, Central African Republic, and South Sudanese refugees, aiming to meet immediate needs and promote self-reliance. Assessments conducted in 2021 and 2022 revealed extremely high levels of vulnerability among refugees, leading to a strategic decision not to transition to needs-based targeting. Instead, the focus shifted to strengthening self-reliance and socio-economic inclusion, which has remained the cornerstone of the Joint Hub’s support through 2024.  

Between 2023 and 2024, with the Joint Hub’s support, UNHCR, WFP, and FAO developed a comprehensive five-year Joint Self-Reliance Strategy, complete with a detailed budget and action plan. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WORK IN DRC

• DRC: Joint Assessment of Burundian Refugees (French)

• DRC: Joint Assessment of CAR Refugees Living Out of Camps (French)

• DRC: Joint Assessment of CAR Refugees Living in Camps (French)

• DRC: Joint Assessment of South Sudanese Refugees (French)