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When the Diaspora Acts: Support for Eastern DRC
This Real-Time Review explored the diaspora contributions in Eastern DRC in response to renewed violence in the region
DR Congo | June 2025 — August 2025
Client: Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
Enhancing Coordination in Humanitarian Settings – Real-Time Review on Diaspora Engagement in Eastern DRC
Farsight conducted a Real-Time Review (RTR) on diaspora contributions to humanitarian efforts in North and South Kivu between January and July 2025. Amid renewed conflict and massive displacement, the study examined how diaspora organisations (DOs) mobilise support in health, education, and emergency relief, despite limited recognition and funding access.
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Read the full report here.
Recruitment combined digital outreach and community-based engagement:
Desk research
47 key informants
Mapping of 53 DOs
Work with international partners
Findings showed that DOs, mostly based in Europe, the U.S., and East Africa, deliver rapid, trust-based assistance through informal networks and digital fundraising. While their agility and community ties are strong assets, their informality limits coordination, visibility, and long-term sustainability.
The RTR consolidates fragmented information on diaspora engagement in North and South Kivu, mapping actors, documenting activities, and identifying gaps and opportunities. It provides humanitarian organizations, local authorities, and diaspora actors with actionable insights to coordinate better, make evidence-based decisions, and design more effective partnerships. By clarifying the landscape, the review strengthens policy discussions, improves crisis response planning, and helps integrate diaspora contributions into sustainable humanitarian action.