Humanitarian Assistance to Conflict Affected Households in Eastern DRC

The program was implemented in 20,104 households, with a focus on internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable populations. Training of community health volunteers (RECOs) in water, sanitation, and hygiene practices was a key activity. A total of 832 RECOs were trained, and they were responsible for promoting hygiene practices and distributing hygiene kits to households. The distribution of hygiene kits showed a high level of satisfaction, with 95% of beneficiaries satisfied with the assistance and 95.18% satisfied with the quality of the kits received. The program also focused on restoring livelihoods through temporary employment and income-generating activities. A total of 2,111 households received temporary employment, and 781 households received livelihoods restoration activities. The results showed that 57.2% of households were able to cover their basic needs, and 40.45% were able to cover their needs partially. The program's water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions showed significant improvements in water quality and quantity. The percentage of households with 0 fecal coliforms in their water increased from 17.5% to 52.5%. The installation of a Water Treatment Unit in Kabalo town improved access to clean drinking water, reducing cases of cholera. The program's livelihoods restoration activities also showed positive results. Beneficiaries were able to improve their coping strategies through the injection of cash, and small markets were created in targeted villages. The program's road rehabilitation and bridge construction improved access to markets and villages, increasing security and facilitating the movement of humanitarian actors. The program's Complaint Response Mechanism (CRM) was strengthened to ensure accountability and transparency. The results showed that 88% of beneficiaries knew how to proceed with complaints about project activities or staff behavior. However, some beneficiaries felt that they did not receive adequate responses to their complaints. The program's key learning points included the need to improve the training of water management committees, follow-up on putting hygiene and sanitation knowledge into practice, and better sensitization on the need for payment for safe and clean water. The program also highlighted the importance of better explanation of the targeting for hygiene kits and improving the follow-up on complaints delivered through the CRM. Overall, the program's results showed significant improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene practices, as well as livelihoods restoration activities. The program's focus on community engagement and participation was key to its success.