DRC: CAP objective - To obtain a 70% financial covering in 2005

Kinshasa 19/ 11 / 2004 - The launch of the Consolidated Appeal 2005 for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that took place in November was an opportunity to present the broad financial outlines of the humanitarian action in 2004 and to draw lessons for the coming year.

Whilst Humanitarian funding in the DRC increased in 2004, the global aid amount recorded a drastic reduction at an international level.

Humanitarian activities are better funded

According to the information provided by involved actors, the global humanitarian aid decreased from 6,6 billion in 2003 to 3,3 billion in 2004. Meanwhile as at 17 November, amounts allocated to the DRC went up from 168 million in 2003 to 189 million in 2004.

Around 101 million of this last amount has been funded within the framework of the CAP, the remainder came from other financial sources, outside the CAP. This financing has shown a steady increase for three years (38 million in 2002; 61 million in 2003).

The CAP's financial coverage also improved between 2003 and 2004 passing from 47 % to 54 % of the total amount requested. However the volume of allocated amounts has slightly reduced (107 million in 2003, 101 million in 2004). This percentage is above the worldwide average of 52% of amount requested. DRC ranks at the 13th position, among the better funded countries.

A relative complementarity between these two financing sources

The financial analysis shows a certain complementarity between these two sources of financing, though figures are difficult to compare due to the inexistence of a common nomenclature. Thus, sectors underfunded or not funded at all through the CAP, benefit from financing outside the CAP and vice versa.

Within the CAP framework, the water and sanitation sector and the shelter and non-food items (NFI) sector, did not receive any funding in 2004. At the bottom of the table the education sector received 3,5%, the economic recovery and infrastructure, and the anti-mining sectors with less than 3%, followed by Food aid with 50%, the multisectorial, food security and agriculture sectors. The coordination sector comes at the first rank with a 87,5% financial coverage. Some UN Agencies did not receive any funds through the CAP. The reasons and the consequences will have to be analysed.

Besides, sectors financially marginalized in the CAP, received a more interest from donors outside the CAP. However, amounts are not always allocated to a unique sector. It is therefore difficult to know precisely which part is given to each sector.

Insofar, the protection sector takes the lead, with 23 million dollars allocated outside the CAP. It is followed by the health sector (20 million). The financial coverage of the Water/Sanitation, the NFI and infrastructure sectors respectively reached 3,7%, 5,1% and 5% in comparison with the total of funding provided outside the CAP.

By totalizing financing allocated in and outside the CAP, food relief arrives at the top of the table (48,3 million), followed by protection (24,5 million) and health. Infrastructure and education sectors did not attract donors' interest.

Contributions are still insufficient

In spite of better financing in DRC in comparison with the worldwide trends, not all humanitarian activities got the required financial support. The infrastructure sector is suffering from an important lack of funding. This sector is essential for the humanitarian community in terms of accessing to new areas, identifying new needs and facilitating the relief transportation.

Needs are huge in the DRC owing to the succession of conflicts and natural disasters. Furthermore, the volatile security situation still creates humanitarian emergencies which have to be addressed.

While taking into account the limit of the NGO response capacity, the CAP 2005 identifies needs and activities that are oriented towards emergencies. It also sets up priorities and realistic objectives aimed at rationalizing humanitarian activities. The amount of 185 million dollars requested in 2005 is therefore lower than previous years.

In order to alleviate human suffering, the CAP 2005 is a more adapted tool. The objective this coming year will be to obtain at least 70% of requested funds.

The accession of the Congolese population to dignity does not only depend on humanitarian assistance. "Humanitarian crises do not exist. There are only humanitarian consequences from political crises and conflicts", said Jahal de Meritens, OCHA/DRC chief, during the CAP launch in Kinshasa. "It is therefore paramount to tackle the real causes of the Congolese unrest in order to reduce vulnerability and to lead this population on the way to sustainable development" added M. de Méritens.