RFAs: Improving Health Services for Displaced Communities (Congo DR)

Deadline: 30-Sep-2026

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is seeking partners to improve access to quality health services for forcibly displaced persons (FDPs) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Call for Expression of Interest focuses on integrating forcibly displaced populations into national and community health systems, with the goal of ensuring equitable and non-discriminatory access to quality healthcare. The initiative covers several provinces across the DRC and aims to progressively include forcibly displaced persons in health policies, plans, financing mechanisms, information systems, and service delivery by 2030.

About the UNHCR Health Systems Integration Initiative

The initiative seeks partners capable of supporting the integration of forcibly displaced persons into existing national and community health systems. Rather than establishing parallel systems, the approach focuses on strengthening inclusion within national and community structures so that forcibly displaced persons can access healthcare on an equitable and non-discriminatory basis. The programme also aims to strengthen the capacity of health systems to respond to the specific needs of displaced populations while contributing to broader health-system resilience. Geographic Focus The Call for Expression of Interest covers several provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including: - Sud-Ubangi - Kinshasa - Nord-Ubangi - Ituri - Sud-Kivu - Haut-Uele - Tanganyika - Haut-Katanga Partners should consider the relevant provincial context and health-system needs when developing their concept notes. 2030 Health Inclusion Goal The initiative aims to ensure that by 2030, forcibly displaced persons have: - Equitable access to quality national health services. - Non-discriminatory access to healthcare. - Access to community health services. - Progressive inclusion in health policies. - Inclusion in health plans. - Appropriate consideration in health financing. - Inclusion in health information systems. - Inclusion in health service delivery. The long-term objective is to make health-system inclusion an integral part of national and community health structures. Expected Partner Contributions Selected partners will be expected to contribute to a range of activities supporting health-system integration.

These contributions include:

- Participatory needs assessments. - Support to authorities for policy integration. - Support for health-system integration. - Strengthening primary healthcare structures. - Epidemic prevention and response. - Integration of non-communicable disease services. - Integration of mental health services. - HIV and STI prevention and care. - Maternal and child health services. - Nutrition interventions. - Community participation. - Accountability mechanisms. - Information management. - Monitoring and reporting.

Participatory Needs Assessments

Partners are expected to undertake participatory needs assessments to understand the health requirements of forcibly displaced populations. These assessments should help identify gaps, barriers to healthcare access, and priorities that can inform health-system integration activities. Engaging relevant communities in the assessment process can help ensure that interventions respond to actual needs. Policy and Health-System Integration Partners will support relevant authorities in progressively integrating forcibly displaced persons into national health policies and systems. This includes contributing to the inclusion of displaced populations within: - Health policies. - Health plans. - Financing arrangements. - Health information systems. - Service delivery mechanisms. The objective is to ensure that forcibly displaced persons are considered within mainstream health-system planning rather than treated separately. Strengthening Primary Healthcare The initiative places emphasis on strengthening primary care structures. Partners may support primary healthcare facilities and systems so that they can provide accessible and quality services to forcibly displaced persons alongside host communities. Strengthening primary care can also contribute to improved prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, referral, and continuity of care. Epidemic Prevention and Response Epidemic prevention and response are among the expected areas of partner contribution. Partners should support health authorities and community systems in strengthening preparedness and response mechanisms relevant to communicable disease outbreaks and other public health threats. Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health The programme also recognises the importance of integrating services addressing non-communicable diseases and mental health. Partners are expected to contribute to the inclusion and availability of these services within health systems serving forcibly displaced populations. This approach recognises that displacement-related health needs extend beyond acute infectious diseases and emergency healthcare. HIV and STI Prevention and Care Partners will also be expected to support HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention and care. Activities should contribute to ensuring that forcibly displaced persons can access relevant prevention, testing, treatment, and care services through appropriate health-system mechanisms. Maternal and Child Health Maternal and child health is another priority area. Partners are expected to contribute to health services and systems that address the needs of mothers, children, and other vulnerable populations among forcibly displaced communities. Nutrition Interventions Nutrition interventions are also included within the expected areas of work. Partners should support approaches that help identify and respond to nutrition-related needs among forcibly displaced populations while strengthening links with national and community health systems. Community Participation and Accountability The initiative places importance on com