ActionAid DRC Holds Inception Workshop to Orient Staff and Partners for ECHO HIP 2025 Implementation

In his opening remarks, the Country Director highlighted the strong history of partnership between ActionAid DRC and ECHO, dating back to 2020.

“Our journey with ECHO since 2020 has strengthened our capacity to deliver impactful, principled humanitarian assistance,” he said. “The implementation of HIP 2025 must be informed by the lessons we have learned over the years. This requires professional conduct, full engagement of community stakeholders, and close collaboration with our local partners to ensure the project responds to the real needs on the ground.”

The orientation brought together Justice Plus, Hope in Action, local authorities, and community representatives to align on technical and operational priorities.

Beyond strategy alignment, the workshop provided space for staff engagement in practical sessions to strengthen understanding of the project’s implementation strategies, operational approach, interventions, geographic focus, and targeted beneficiaries. Teams also reviewed the MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) strategy and framework, ensuring clear pathways for evidence-based implementation and adaptive learning.

The workshop further reinforced knowledge of key organizational policies, including the Communications Policy, Human Resources guidelines, Security protocols, SHEA and Safeguarding standards, Finance, and Procurement procedures. These sessions were particularly valuable for new staff, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to operate effectively and uphold ActionAid’s professional and ethical standards in sensitive operational contexts.

Sessions also covered ActionAid’s four humanitarian signatures, women’s leadership in humanitarian action, shifting power to local communities, accountability to affected populations, and resilience and sustainability. Through group discussions, participants explored how these principles will guide the delivery of HIP 2025 in conflict-affected areas.

Funded by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the 24-month project will reach 131,461 people, including 71,799 children across 110 schools, 95 of which are receiving humanitarian support for the first time. Key activities will include:

• School rehabilitation and the creation of safe learning spaces
• Teacher training and distribution of school kits
• Psychosocial support for conflict-affected children
• Community awareness on women’s rights and positive masculinity
• Protection mechanisms, including mine risk education and support for survivors of violence
• Crisis Modifier actions to respond rapidly to emerging emergencies

The next phase following the inception workshop will be the official launch of project activities in target health zones, accompanied by community mobilization and sensitization campaigns to ensure strong local ownership.

The Country Director reiterated that ActionAid’s implementation approach will remain human rights-based, gender-sensitive, and participatory, ensuring the dignity, protection, and inclusion of affected populations.

About the ECHO HIP 2025 Project

The ECHO HIP 25 project is a two-year, $7 million initiative implemented by ActionAid DRC in partnership with Justice Plus, Hope in Action, and community stakeholders. Operating in Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Maniema, the project targets children, women, internally displaced persons, and host communities in 140 schools.

Its goal is to enhance access to safe education and protection services, while building community resilience to ongoing conflict and crisis. The project combines emergency education, child protection, gender-based violence prevention, and crisis response to ensure that vulnerable populations are supported in a holistic, sustainable, and rights-based manner.