Apply for Integrated Shelter, Non-Food Items and Cash Assistance (Congo DR)

Deadline: 30-Sep-2026

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is seeking partners to provide integrated non-food items (NFIs), shelter assistance, and cash transfers to populations affected by forced displacement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Call for Expression of Interest aims to identify partners capable of delivering timely, coordinated, and context-appropriate assistance across multiple provinces. The programme seeks to strengthen the resilience of forcibly displaced persons and host communities while improving emergency preparedness and response systems.

About the UNHCR Assistance Programme

The initiative focuses on consolidating protection and assistance systems that can respond rapidly and effectively to emergencies affecting populations impacted by forced displacement. The approach combines different forms of humanitarian assistance, including: - Non-food items. - Shelter assistance. - Cash transfers. - Site management services. The programme aims to ensure that affected populations can meet essential needs while maintaining dignity and access to appropriate living conditions. Geographic Coverage The Call for Expression of Interest covers multiple provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including: - Haut-Katanga - Tanganyika - Kasai Central - Kasai - Sud-Ubangi - Sud-Kivu - Nord-Ubangi - Bas-Uele - Ituri - Nord-Kivu - Haut-Uele Applicants should consider the specific humanitarian and displacement context of each intervention area when developing their proposals. Main Programme Objectives The initiative has two major areas of focus. First, it seeks to ensure that populations affected by forced displacement can meet their essential needs with dignity through timely and context-appropriate cash and/or in-kind assistance. Second, it aims to increase access to safe, affordable, and environmentally respectful shelter solutions for the most vulnerable households. Together, these objectives are intended to strengthen resilience among forcibly displaced persons and host communities. Non-Food Item Assistance Non-food items are an important component of the proposed integrated response. Partners will be expected to support affected populations with appropriate in-kind assistance based on identified needs and the specific context of each intervention area. The approach should help households meet essential needs while maintaining dignity during displacement and emergencies. Cash Assistance Cash transfers are another key component of the programme. Partners should be capable of delivering timely cash assistance where appropriate, allowing affected populations to address essential needs according to their circumstances. Cash and in-kind assistance can be used according to the context and needs identified in the intervention areas. Shelter Assistance The programme seeks to improve access to safe, affordable, and environmentally respectful shelter solutions. Particular attention should be given to the needs of the most vulnerable households affected by forced displacement. Shelter interventions should contribute to safer living conditions while considering affordability and environmental responsibility. Site Management Services The programme also includes support for populations benefiting from shelter and site management services. Partners should incorporate relevant site management activities into their proposals where applicable and demonstrate how these services contribute to effective assistance and protection for displacement-affected populations. Emergency Preparedness and Response A central objective is to strengthen assistance systems so that they are: - Anticipatory. - Coordinated. - Adequately funded. - Capable of rapid response. - Effective during emergencies. This approach is intended to improve the ability of humanitarian actors to respond quickly when new displacement or other emergencies occur. Pre-Positioned Stocks and Reserve Funds Applicants are required to incorporate a mandatory performance indicator concerning the existence of pre-positioned stocks or reserve funds. This requirement reflects the programme’s emphasis on preparedness and rapid emergency response. Partners should demonstrate appropriate arrangements that can help ensure assistance is available when urgent needs arise. Mandatory Performance Indicators Proposals must integrate mandatory performance indicators into their programme design.

These include indicators related to:

- The existence of pre-positioned stocks or reserve funds. - The number of people receiving cash assistance. - The number of people receiving non-food item assistance. - The number of people benefiting from shelter and site management services. Applicants should ensure that these indicators are clearly incorporated into their results framework. Population Data Disaggregation Programme data must be appropriately disaggregated. Applicants are expected to disaggregate data according to: - Population status. - Gender. - Age. - Disability. - Geographic area. This approach is intended to improve understanding of who is receiving assistance and whether different population groups are being reached effectively. Annual Targets Proposals should include realistic annual targets for the required performance indicators. Targets should be based on the proposed activities, available resources, operational capacity, and anticipated needs in each intervention area. Applicants should avoid unrealistic targets and clearly explain how the proposed figures will be achieved. Calculation Methods Applicants must provide clear calculation methods for their indicators. The methodology should explain how performance figures will be calculated and how the programme will determine the number of people receiving different forms of assistance. Clear calculation methods can help ensure consistency in monitoring and reporting. Verification Sources Proposals should identify appropriate verification sources for each relevant i