Tenders are invited for Consultancy for the External Evaluation of NRCs Housing, Land and Property (LTP) Interventions under the ICLA Program. Closing Date: 10 Nov 2025 Type: Consultancy 1. General Information Context The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is experiencing one of the worlds most severe and protracted humanitarian crises in 2025, characterized by escalating armed conflict, massive population displacement, and a continued deterioration in the protection of civilians. With over 21.2 million people in need and 11 million targeted by the humanitarian response, the DRC ranks third globally in internal displacement crises, after Sudan and Syria. The eastern provinces (North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri) remain the epicenter of this crisis, the focus of clashes between the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and various armed groups, including the M23, the ADF, CODECO, and Zaire. The M23 offensive in early 2025, marked by the capture of Goma in January and Bukavu in February, caused massive displacement, the destruction of camps for displaced persons and the closure of Goma airport, severely hindering the delivery of aid. By mid-2025, more than 5 million people remain internally displaced, including 1.8 million in North Kivu, 1.4 million in South Kivu, and 1.5 million in Ituri, while 5 million returnees attempt to resettle amid insecurity and limited access to basic services. These dynamics generate increased pressure on local land and resources, exacerbating land tensions and intercommunal conflicts. In Ituri, for example, ongoing clashes between Hema and Lendu communities, along with repeated attacks by the CODECO and Zaïre groups, continue to fuel Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) disputes, jeopardizing any lasting stabilization. The land crisis and the precarious legal status of land exacerbate the vulnerabilities of internally displaced persons and host communities. The lack of land tenure documents, weak land management mechanisms, secondary land occupations, and forced evictions undermine the prospects for sustainable solutions. The Protection Cluster (AoR LTP) estimates that more than 2.9 million people will have urgent needs related to land tenure by 2025. These needs are further amplified by the rapid urbanization of Goma and Bunia, where land pressure generates arbitrary evictions and increases the risk of social conflict. Moreover, increasing urban insecurity, marked by assassinations, burglaries and attacks [3] on property, exacerbates violations of property rights, while blockages of humanitarian access, looting of warehouses and attacks against personnel (humanitarian, basic social services and UN) compromise the protection of civilians and the continuity of essential services. In this context, the action of NRC and its partners in the area of legal assistance and due diligence relating to LTP is fundamental to preventing and resolving disputes, securing temporary occupations, strengthening collaborative dispute settlements at the community level, and supporting local authorities in the application of national and international standards for the protection of the LTP rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and populations affected by displacement. NRCs Activities and Presence The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has been present in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2001 and operates primarily in the eastern provinces, particularly North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri, which account for the majority of humanitarian needs. With field offices in Goma, Beni, and Bunia, as well as a national office in Kinshasa, NRC has a strong operational presence, enabling it to work closely with affected populations. The organization implements a multi-sectoral approach through its six core competencies: Information, Counseling and Legal Assistance (ICLA); Education, Food Security and Livelihoods (LFS); Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH); Shelter and Essential Household Items (NFI); and Protection from Violence (PfV). These interventions aim to address immediate needs while fostering sustainable solutions for the benefit of internally displaced persons, returnees, refugees, and vulnerable host communities. The ICLA program is central to NRCs strategy in the DRC, addressing issues related to access to civil rights and land tenure, which are major obstacles to protection and sustainable solutions. NRC provides information and legal advice services, supports administrative and judicial processes, facilitates collaborative dispute resolution at the community level and land verification, and strengthens the capacities of local, customary, and judicial authorities. Mass awareness campaigns and community dialogue are also conducted to prevent disputes, secure temporary occupations, and promote social cohesion. The LTP programs theory of change is based on the premise that if populations affected by conflict and displacement have access to reliable information, legal support, and inclusive dispute resolution mechanisms, they can secure their land tenure, prevent evictions, and move towards sustainable solutions. Simultaneously, if local and customary authorities implement more transparent and equitable land governance practices, and if national policies integrate these dimensions, this will foster social cohesion and the recognition of the land rights of vulnerable populations. Land Tenure and Property (LTP) due diligence aims to ensure that NRC and humanitarian actors interventions are based on a thorough understanding of land rights, local dynamics, and potential risks. By identifying, analyzing, and mitigating legal, social, and environmental risks, this process strengthens the capacity of field teams to make informed decisions aligned with the "do no harm" principle and applicable legal frameworks. In doing so, it fosters the implementation of more responsible, legitimate, and sustainable humanitarian interventions, building trust between humanitarian actors, communities, and local institutions. Through its interventions, NRC acts as a catalyst, creating synergies between humanitarian assistance, institutional strengthening, and advocacy with Congolese authorities and international partners. The organization actively participates in humanitarian coordination mechanisms, particularly within the Protection Cluster and its areas of responsibility, notably the AOR HLP, thus contributing to shaping the collective response. NRC also maintains strategic partnerships with local NGOs and community-based organizations to promote a localized approach and ensure the sustainability of achievements. NRC interventions specific to the assessment NRCs Housing, Land and Property (LTP) interventions in the DRC focus on the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri, areas marked by high insecurity, mass displacement, and heightened land tensions. They aim to address the urgent needs of internally displaced persons, returnees, and host communities by strengthening their land tenure security, preventing land conflicts, and consolidating sustainable solutions. As part of the ECHO-funded I MPACT project (from 01/07/2023 to 30/06/2026), NRC implemented integrated activities to guarantee access to LTP rights. These are: information and individual and collective advice on rights related to LTPs; support for households in obtaining or reconstituting land and administrative documents, including direct payment of administrative and judicial fees to the competent authorities; support for due diligence in land matters to avoid the risks of secondary occupation, forced eviction or litigation in multi-sectoral Shelter and WASH interventions. The project has reached 4,904 people so far, 49% of whom are women. 2,510 people received LTP counseling services and 760 people received LTP legal assistance services. As part of the BHA/USAID project (August 15, 2023 to February 14, 2026), NRC is also working to secure land access for displaced and returned persons through: the negotiation of temporary land occupation agreements in consultation with customary and administrative authorities; support for the collaborative resolution of land conflicts at the community level; the integration of LTP aspects into rapid response (RRM) measures, particularly to secure emergency accommodation sites and facilitate the stabilization of affected communities. The project has reached 15,921 people so far, 63% of whom are women. 3,202 people received LTP counseling services and 4,824 people received LTP legal assistance services. Finally, within the framework of the European Union- funded projects Nashiriki Kwa Masikilizano I (01/12/2021 to 31/05/2023) implemented by NRC in Ituri and North Kivu, LTP legal assistance contributes to protection and sustainable solutions through: Organising information, advice and legal assistance sessions for internally displaced persons, returnees and host communities on their rights related to housing, land and property; The establishment and strengthening of community mediation and land management committees, in order to prevent evictions, secure occupation and resolve disputes; Strengthening the capacities of local, customary and judicial authorities on inclusive land governance and the peaceful resolution of conflicts; Support for community dialogues and forums for popular expression, enabling the development of local action plans for peaceful coexistence and equitable access to land; Promoting the participation of vulnerable groups women, youth, people with disabilities in land governance and dispute resolution mechanisms. The project has reached 3,346 people so far, of whom 51.1% are women. 1,704 people received LTP counseling services, and 673 people received LTP legal assistance services. These interventions reflect NRCs added value: creating bridges between individual legal assistance, community mediation, and institutional advo Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4183556/consultance-pour-levaluation-externe-des-interventions-de-nrc-en-matiere-de-logement-terre-et-propriete-ltp-du-programme-icla
