Who is the Danish Refugee Council and DEMAC?

Founded in 1956, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading international NGO and one of the few with a specific expertise in forced displacement. Active in 40 countries with 9,000 employees and supported by 7,500 volunteers, DRC protects, advocates, and builds sustainable futures for refugees and other displacement affected people and communities. DRC works during displacement at all stages: In the acute crisis, in displacement, when settling and integrating in a new place, or upon return. DRC provides protection and life-saving humanitarian assistance; supports displaced persons in becoming self-reliant and included into hosting societies; and works with civil society and responsible authorities to promote protection of rights and peaceful coexistence.

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) operating in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since 2007 focusing on delivering multi-sectoral assistance to refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and vulnerable host communities impacted by conflict. With a primary objective of mitigating immediate protection risks and reduce household vulnerabilities through a timely and effective humanitarian response, enhancing the protective environment for affected populations.

DEMAC, the Diaspora Emergency Action & Coordination network, is an initiative hosted by the Diaspora Programme. DEMAC aims at enhancing diaspora emergency response capacity and coordination with local actors and with the institutional humanitarian system. The objective is to contribute to transforming the humanitarian landscape by laying the ground for a deeper understanding of diasporas as humanitarian actors with different modus operandi for the implementation of aid, identifying and opening potential spaces for engagement, cross-fertilization and increased coordination between diaspora and institutional relief providers.

To read more, please visit www.demac.org.

Background

The humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has persisted for decades, with cycles of conflict, displacement, and economic instability leaving millions of people in urgent need of assistance. The eastern regions of North and South Kivu are among the most affected, with escalating violence exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and significantly increasing humanitarian needs. As of early 2025, the humanitarian landscape in these provinces remains complex, characterized by ongoing armed conflict, food insecurity, health crises, and limited access to basic services.

The Congolese diaspora has historically played a crucial role in supporting crisis-affected communities through remittances, advocacy, and direct humanitarian interventions. Financially, diaspora remittances form a significant portion of the DRC’s GDP, contributing over a billion USD in 2023 alone.1 These funds, while primarily used for family support, also enable diaspora actors to fund grassroots initiatives, humanitarian aid efforts, and local development projects. However, despite their substantial contributions, diaspora-led interventions often operate independently of formal humanitarian coordination structures, limiting their potential impact.

The current crisis in North and South Kivu has triggered a renewed wave of diaspora engagement. Many Congolese diaspora organizations and individuals have mobilized rapidly to provide emergency relief, fundraising for food assistance, medical supplies, and logistical support. Social media platforms have played a critical role in amplifying these efforts, facilitating cross-border fundraising campaigns and enabling direct connections between diaspora donors and local implementing actors. However, there is a growing need to assess how these diaspora initiatives align with broader humanitarian response efforts, identify gaps in engagement, and explore opportunities for enhanced collaboration with local actors, NGOs, and international agencies.

DEMAC (Diaspora Emergency Action & Coordination) has been at the forefront of efforts to bridge the gap between diaspora-led humanitarian action and institutional humanitarian response mechanisms. Through previous research and engagement in crisis settings such as Syria, Somalia, and Ukraine, DEMAC has highlighted both the potential and challenges of diaspora humanitarian interventions. Building on this experience, DEMAC aims to conduct a Real-Time Review (RTR) of the Congolese diaspora’s humanitarian response to the crisis in North and South Kivu. The RTR will serve as a critical evidence-gathering initiative to document diaspora contributions, assess coordination gaps, and develop recommendations for more effective and sustained diaspora engagement in humanitarian action.

This review will examine key aspects of diaspora involvement, including the mechanisms through which aid is mobilized and delivered, the extent of engagement with local responders, and the effectiveness of diaspora-led fundraising efforts. Additionally, the RTR will explore how diaspora actors navigate logistical and operational challenges, including legal barriers to financial transfers, customs regulations on humanitarian goods, and security concerns related to aid delivery in conflict-affected areas. Understanding these dynamics is essential for developing strategies that enhance the effectiveness of diaspora contributions and integrate them into the wider humanitarian response ecosystem.

The findings of the RTR will be disseminated through a launch webinar and targeted stakeholder engagement, ensuring that both humanitarian actors and diaspora groups benefit from the insights generated. By fostering dialogue between diaspora organizations, local NGOs, and institutional humanitarian actors, DEMAC aims to strengthen partnerships that can lead to more coordinated, impactful, and sustainable responses to the crisis in North and South Kivu.

Objective of the consultancy

The objective of this consultancy is to conduct a comprehensive Real-Time Review (RTR) to analyze, document, and assess the humanitarian and recovery response efforts led by the Congolese diaspora in North and South Kivu. Through this review, DEMAC seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the role played by diaspora organizations, the effectiveness of their interventions, the challenges they face, and the opportunities available for strengthening their engagement in locally led humanitarian efforts.

A key priority of this consultancy is to ensure that the findings from the RTR inform evidence-based decision-making for both diaspora-led initiatives and local humanitarian efforts in the region. By identifying critical gaps and opportunities for collaboration, the consultancy will deliver actionable recommendations to strengthen the collective impact of local and diaspora actors. These insights will shape DEMAC’s strategy to enhance the role of the Congolese diaspora in a more coordinated and locally driven humanitarian response.

The specific objectives of the consultancy include:

• Mapping and Analysis of Diaspora Actors:
  • Identify and document key Congolese diaspora organizations and networks involved in humanitarian and recovery efforts in North and South Kivu.
  • Analyze the geographical distribution, structure, and operational focus of these actors, highlighting their areas of intervention and thematic priorities.
  • Assess the level of engagement with local actors and support of diaspora organizations in shaping humanitarian responses.
• Evaluation of Diaspora-Led Humanitarian Responses:
  • Assess the scope, scale, and impact of diaspora interventions, including direct aid distribution, support to local actors, and advocacy efforts.
  • Examine the effectiveness and sustainability of diaspora-led fundraising mechanisms, including crowdfunding campaigns, donations from diaspora communities, and partnerships with private sector actors.
  • Identify success stories and best practices of diaspora organizations’ collaboration with local actors that can be replicated or scaled up to enhance diaspora contributions to humanitarian action.
• Assessment of Coordination and Collaboration Mechanisms:
  • Evaluate the extent to which diaspora organizations coordinate with local humanitarian actors, and if applicable government authorities.
  • Identify existing formal and informal networks that facilitate collaboration between diaspora and local actors.
  • Assess challenges related to coordination, communication, and information-sharing, and propose strategies to improve synergy between diaspora initiatives and the broader local humanitarian ecosystem.
• Identification of Key Challenges and Barriers:
  • Analyze regulatory, financial, and logistical barriers that diaspora organizations face when providing humanitarian support in North and South Kivu.
  • Examine constraints related to financial transactions, importation of humanitarian goods, security risks, and political dynamics that affect diaspora engagement.
  • Provide recommendations for mitigating these challenges and strengthening diaspora’s support to local humanitarian efforts.
• Development of Actionable Recommendations:
  • Develop concrete, evidence-based recommendations to better leverage the strengths of diaspora actors in supporting locally led humanitarian responses, and to help them overcome the challenges they face in doing so.
  • Propose strategies for fostering stronger linkages between diaspora organizations and local humanitarian actors.

By achieving these objectives, the consultancy will contribute to a more coherent and strategic approach to diaspora engagement in humanitarian response and recovery efforts in North and South Kivu. The findings will be presented in a comprehensive report and shared through a webinar to facilitate dialogue between diaspora organizations, humanitarian actors, and other key stakeholders.

Deliverables

The Consultant will submit the following deliverables as mentioned below:

• Expected Deliverable: Inception Report
  • Task Description:
    • A brief inception report indicating how the objectives of the research will be achieved, and the support required from DEMAC. The inception report will include drafts of data collection tools and list of potential key informants.
  • Number of working days:
    • 5 working days
  • Associated Payment:
    • 20%
• Expected Deliverable: Update of mapping of diaspora actors including private diaspora entities involved in emergency and recovery efforts.
  • Task Description
    • Mapping in form of a table and summary table and part as an annex of the internal RTR report.
  • Number of working days
    • 5 working days
• Expected Deliverable: 5 pages preliminary findings document (or presentation) + outline for final report
  • Task Description
    • Max 5 pages document presenting preliminary findings right after the conclusion of data collection.
  • Number of working days
    • 15 working days (including data collection)
• Expected Deliverable: Full Real-time review report
  • Task Description
    • Max 20 – 25 pages excluding visualizations and annexes. The real-time review will be drafted based on the findings of data analysis in both languages English and French.
  • Number of working days
    • 5 working days
• Expected Deliverable: Executive brief of key findings and recommendations and 2 to 3 case studies of successful local/diaspora partnership
  • Task Description
    • 1-2 pager summary on main findings and key highlights and recommendations in both languages English and French for external audience.
  • Number of working days
    • 2 working days
  • Associated Payment
    • 80%
• Expected Deliverable: Presentation and briefing
  • Task Description
    • Online presentation of the findings during DEMAC launch for the report.
  • Number of working days
    • 0.5 working days

Payment will be provided upon completion of the deliverables according to the associated payment scheduling as seen above after validation and acceptance of the report, against each payment.

Duration & timeline

The total expected duration to complete the assignment will be no more (33 working days). The consultant shall be prepared to complete the assignment no later than 01st of July 2025.

Proposed composition of team

The consultant can be either an independent or a firm, the composition of the team proposed should be reasonable against the expected deliverables.

Eligibility, qualification, and experience required

Essential:

• A minimum of 7 years of proven experience in mixed-methods research.
• Master’s degree in a relevant field (political or social sciences, migration studies, African or International studies…).
• Experience working with the Congolese diaspora or conducting research on diaspora engagement in humanitarian response.
• Knowledge of Congolese local civil society networks and operational challenges in North and South Kivu.
• Proven expertise in diaspora humanitarian response, fundraising mechanisms, and international development.
• Fluency in French and English, with excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Familiarity with humanitarian coordination mechanisms and local actors in North and South Kivu.
• Research background in diaspora/community engagement/humanitarian response/emergency.
• Excellent analytical, interpersonal, communication and reporting skills.
• Strong methodological and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated experience of conducting research in sensitive context.

Technical supervision

The consultant will collaborate closely with the DEMAC Research and MEAL Specialist. It is anticipated that the consultant will maintain regular weekly contact with the focal points. The focal points will be responsible for ensuring timely responses to drafts and inputs provided by the consultant.

Location and support

The consultant will be home based, with a preference for consultants based / able to have presence in DRC and /or the diaspora’s primary locations (France, Belgium, USA, Canada). The Consultant will provide their own computer and mobile telephone.

Travel

If the performance of the research and data collection require to travel to field missions, the Consultant is expected to arrange transportation, accommodation, food and to make adequate provision in the Financial Proposal. Consultants contracted by DRC will be covered by DRC travel insurance.

How to Apply:

Details on how to prepare and submit your proposal are stipulated in RFP letter which can be found as part of the tender publication on DRC’s website at: DRC Tenders | DRC Danish Refugee Council