Great Lakes

Document status: current. Last source check: 4 Nov 2026, 09:59 UTC. Extracts below retain the donor’s source wording.

Countries and scope

Democratic Republic of the Congo · Republic of the Congo · Tanzania · Burundi · Rwanda

• this HIP covers the five countries Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania3, it focuses in particular on the humanitarian needs (a) triggered by the conflicts in the DRC and (b) the Great Lakes refugee crisis

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Funding priorities

• Given the limited funding availability compared to identified needs, further compounded by the global humanitarian funding crisis in 2025, the response funded under this HIP will require an even further prioritisation and focus only on most severe and recent humanitarian needs. In the humanitarian response to the crisis inside DRC, a strict geographic prioritisation will be made and, in the DRC, only interventions in Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Maniema and Tanganyika, as well as Mai-Ndombe, will in principle be eligible for funding14.

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• In the context of the regional refugee crisis, DG ECHO will continue its regional approach while, in the context of the overall drastic funding cuts and the resulting need to accelerate the identification of durable solutions, working with development actors – in particular DG INTPA – to develop strategies to address protracted refugee situations and find long-term solutions, and allowing refugees to work towards self-reliance and resilience and thereby reduce aid dependency. In Burundi, DG ECHO will focus mainly on protection activities, including for returnees. While advocacy for the voluntary character of any refugee return will be pursued,

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• interventions in the context of this response should consider exit strategies and avenues for voluntary returns from the DRC, Tanzania and Rwanda to Burundi as a priority. In the context of the ever-increasing regional refugee crisis due to the war in eastern DRC, which has forced more than 100 000 refugees from the DRC to flee into neighbouring countries, DG ECHO will also continue support for interventions responding to the increasing number of Congolese refugees in the region, especially in Burundi, by responding to the acute needs of new arrivals.

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• In the DRC, considering the large-scale takeover of territory by the M23 armed group in early 2025, it will be even more important to ensure that interventions particularly in areas controlled by armed groups such as in M23-controlled territories will be based upon demonstrated compliance with humanitarian principles and the do-no-harm principle, as well as based on a sound contextual, conflict and risk analysis and coordinated with other humanitarian actors intervening in those areas and following Access Working Group recommendations.

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• Interventions must also demonstrate reinforced measures to address the increased sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) risks, including context-appropriate preventive measures and the reinforcement of confidential, safe and dignified avenues for age- and gender- appropriate assistance for survivors.

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• DG ECHO-funded humanitarian interventions should be based on holistic multi-risk needs assessments and focus on life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable – those affected by recent conflicts and/or epidemics, natural-hazard induced disasters and/or new displacements. To maximise the impact, priority will be given to interventions covering basic services through an integrated multi-sectorial response (including Food assistance, NFI, protection, Health and Nutrition). For cash-based responses, preference will be given to interventions based on use of digital payments and innovative technologies, including the expansion of mobile money where

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• technically and operationally feasible and practical.

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• The nature of the crises in the region requires an integrated approach, protection-centred programming, protection/gender/disability mainstreaming and a conflict sensitive approach (“do no harm”) to be applied in the strategic needs analysis and in all activities. DG ECHO is keen to support integrated Protection programming with multi-sectorial outcomes, including concrete Protection outcomes to improve the safeguarding of persons of concern.

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• Close field coordination with other humanitarian actors intervening in the same geographic area/village/camp/IDP site is expected. This can be based on area-based coordination models where relevant and feasible and should, as a minimum, cover the coordination of the response in each location but should ideally also involve joint or shared needs assessments. Interventions should also enhance the fast tracking and direct referrals system to other sectors, notably through the signature of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU’s) between humanitarian actors and/or authorities, the standardisation/harmonisation of processes and methodologies, such as

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• registration forms and data sharing agreements for interoperability. DG ECHO will also pay attention to existing and/or possible synergies with other ongoing activities implemented by the same partner or others, including development actors.

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• DG ECHO also supports enablers of the humanitarian response to the respective crises in the Great Lakes to maximise the impact and timeliness of the action as well as humanitarian access. This includes coordination efforts, including humanitarian civil-military coordination, which is essential given the increased needs, supporting operational coordination (clusters, working groups, coordination fora etc.), and humanitarian advocacy in line with humanitarian principles. DG ECHO also supports organisations engaging in a contextualisation of international humanitarian law, international human rights law, refugee law and humanitarian

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• standards to improve the situation of conflict-affected people. Given the volatile security context especially in the DRC, DG ECHO supports the provision of essential security coordination and information services that help to understand the operating environment and reduce the safety and security risks for humanitarian staff and operations.

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• DG ECHO funded actions also have to comply with the Minimum Environmental Requirements.15

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• 15https://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/policies/environment/guidance_on_the_operationalisation_of_the_mers_for_eu- funded_humanitarian_aid_operations.pdf

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• 16 DRC has been included in the EU's list of priority countries on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) for 2025-2026, based on the findings of UN Secretary General's annual report on CAAC for the year 2024 : DRC had the 2nd highest number of verified grave violations against children across the world (4,043). This includes 2,365 verified cases of children recruited and used by armed groups and armed forces, as well as 438 cases of children killed (190) and maimed (248).

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• DG ECHO aims to reinforce its support to partners in setting up protection monitoring and early warning systems at community level to monitor the protection situation and maintain local capacity to enable communities to access security and preventive measures. Furthermore, interventions aiming at promoting respect of IHL with state and non-state armed groups may be supported, in order to prevent and address protection risks and violations, including gender- based violence and child recruitment and use by armed groups.

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• Given the dismantling of IDP sites around Goma and the subsequent forced return of up to one million people to their areas of origin, potentially facing significant housing, land and property (HLP) issues, HLP activities may be funded where relevant and needed.

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• In terms of response to gender-based violence, DG ECHO will continue the implementation of its holistic SGBV response strategy launched in 2024, taking into account lessons learnt during the first two years of implementation. It will prioritise actions that address the harmful effects of GBV in the DRC on populations at risk and survivors of GBV. Priority will be given to interventions in which GBV is responded to holistically (all four pillars: Pillar 1 Health, Pillar 2 MHPSS, Pillar 3 legal, and Pillar 4 socio-economic response) and as part of an integrated response to the humanitarian needs in the DRC. A strong prevention component to combat the prevalence of GBV is essential.

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• Furthermore, all DG ECHO partners engaged in humanitarian action must demonstrate how they will ensure that their actions do not further contribute to GBV through solid GBV risk mitigation actions to be assessed at proposal stage and during monitoring.

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• Due to an observed increase in forced recruitments, DG ECHO will prioritise actions that respond to the needs of Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups (CAAFAG)16, including safe identification, referral, and reintegration. DG ECHO will carefully consider approaches that take into account the contextual dynamics of working with CAFAAGs to include the understanding that children and their families are individually and collectively impacted differently depending on their unique set of circumstances. DG ECHO

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• will only consider funding a comprehensive response to the needs of CAAFAG with partners accredited for DDR-Enfant and recognised for these activities and active in relevant clusters.

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• Humanitarian food assistance and livelihoods (HFLA): DG ECHO prioritizes addressing acute food insecurity within an integrated approach to address basic needs comprehensively. Partners are expected to build on strategic coordination to enable cross sectoral referrals where household humanitarian needs can be addressed by partners in the same locations. Food assistance will prioritise areas evidenced with most acute food needs including new displacements, emphasising hard-to-reach locations. Adapted instruments for rapid response capitalising on market-based and digital solutions aiming for increased efficiency and effectiveness of the assistance are essential.

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• Specific attention will be given to Education in Emergencies (EiE) for the most vulnerable children either displaced and/or conflict affected, including CAAFAG. The aim is to increase their access to education (formal and non-formal). The response should target areas affected by humanitarian shocks with a 1st line response that has a PSS focus, understanding that well- being is an essential foundation for learning. EiE interventions as part of multisectoral, integrated programmes are essential to provide holistic support to children. Where relevant and feasible, the Nexus approach should be pursued. Integrated EiE and child protection

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• programming is strongly encouraged, as well as integration with other sectors where relevant.

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• In terms of response to WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) needs, DG ECHO will in particular aim to support interventions aiming at improving the sustainable access to water for the most vulnerable people by supporting interventions linking the humanitarian response with critical social services infrastructure.

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• DG ECHO will systematically address emergency preparedness and early response through a) flexibility tools embedded in other actions – including the use of “crisis modifiers” that partners are encouraged to develop and b) emergency/rapid response mechanisms (ERM/RRM) as standalone actions when no other solution is possible or in support of other actions (last resort principle) and c) disaster preparedness (DP) investments reinforcing local response capacities, and hence increasing resilience.

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• Given the persistent and further growing access challenges in many areas, DG ECHO supports the creation and maintenance of humanitarian corridors and reinforced logistics support including mutualized transport and joint warehousing. DG ECHO’s ‘Humanitarian Logistics Policy’ (also known as Humanitarian Strategic Supply Chain and Logistics – SSN) provides useful guidance.17 The DRC is benefiting already from EUHAB and EUHAF operations, funded under the ReliefEU HIP. DG ECHO may also continue supporting logistics results within larger humanitarian actions (e.g. for physical light rehabilitation of roads and bridges to

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• enable physical humanitarian access) or support specific logistics actions with the above- mentioned objectives. DG ECHO may also envisage supporting strategic projects that embrace collaborative approaches and/or technology and/or environmental sustainability, e.g. common services and/or the digitalisation of supply chains.

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Partner eligibility

• Only ECHO partners are eligible to submit a project for funding17;

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• No award will be made to NGO partner organisations which have not complied with their obligations concerning the submission of audited financial statements (i.e., which would not have submitted those in due time to the Commission without a proper justification) or which would appear not to offer sufficient guarantee as to their financial capacity to implement the proposed actions (in light of their liquidity and solvency ratios as appearing from their latest available annual statutory accounts certified by an approved external auditor).

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• All awards made using EU Funds must respect the Conditionality Measures18 issued under any Council Implementing Decision adopted in accordance with Article 6 of EU Regulation 2020/2092 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget19 (“Conditionality Decision”).

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• The Commission hereby notifies applicants under this HIP/TA of the following Conditionality Decision (valid at the date of publication of this HIP/TA):

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• 17 Lists of DG ECHO Partners are available here:[Humanitarian partners - European Commission](https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/partnerships/humanitarian-partners_en).

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• For programmatic partnerships, see eligible DG ECHO Partners in the Guidance to DG ECHO Partners Programmatic Partnerships 2024 available here:[https://www.dgecho-partners-helpdesk.eu/reference-documents-ngo](https://www.dgecho-partners-helpdesk.eu/reference-documents-ngo).

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• 18 Conditionality Measures against a Concerned Entity, may, for example, include, amongst others, the requirement to suspend payments or the implementation of the legal commitment to/with the Concerned Entity; and/or terminate the legal commitment with the Concerned Entity; and/or prohibit entering into new legal commitments with the Concerned Entity. Conditionality Decisions and Measures issued under Council Implementing Decisions may impact the implementation of grants, contributions and procurement contracts awarded, as the Commission is required to ensure the application of these

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• Conditionality Decisions and Measures in the implementation of the EU budget via both direct and indirect management. implementation of grants, contributions and procurement contracts awarded, as the Commission is required to ensure the application of these Conditionality Decisions and Measures in the implementation of the EU budget via both direct and indirect management.

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• 19 Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2020 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget OJ L 433I , 22.12.2020, p. 1–10

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• 21 Act IX of 2021 on public interest trust foundations with a public service mission (entry into force 01/01/2023).

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• 22 Available (in Hungarian) at:[https://njt.hu/jogszabaly/2021-9-00-00](https://njt.hu/jogszabaly/2021-9-00-00)

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• Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2506 of 15 December 2022 on measures for the protection of the Union budget against breaches of the principles of the rule of law in Hungary20.

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• This Conditionality Decision, in particular its Article 2.2, prohibits legal commitments under direct and indirect management with any public interest trust established by Hungarian Act IX of 202121, including those entities listed in Annex I to Hungarian Act IX of 202122 and other affiliated entities maintained by them (“Concerned Entities”). The Commission will further notify when the above- mentioned Conditionality Measures are lifted.

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Apply the round-specific restrictions below together with the complete partner and award conditions.

Allocation rounds and submission dates

Official documents and versions

• HIP version 4 ↗ Version 4 · document read · 4 Nov 2026, 09:59 UTC
• Technical annex version 4 ↗ Version 4 · document read · 4 Nov 2026, 09:59 UTC

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