Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading international NGO and one of the few with a specific expertise in forced displacement. Active in 40 countries with 9,000 employees and supported by 7,500 volunteers, DRC protects, advocates, and builds sustainable futures for refugees and other displacement affected people and communities. DRC works during displacement at all stages: In the acute crisis, in displacement, when settling and integrating in a new place, or upon return. DRC provides protection and life-saving humanitarian assistance; supports displaced persons in becoming self-reliant and included into hosting societies; and works with civil society and responsible authorities to promote protection of rights and peaceful coexistence
DRC has been operational in Kenya since 2010 and is UNHCR’s largest Implementing Partner in the refugee response. Alongside this DRC Kenya has a wide range of humanitarian, development and peacebuilding programming that offers an opportunity to develop our identity in Kenya as uniquely placed to deliver across the ‘triple nexus’
DRC has also been operating in the Mandera region since 2015 implementing cross border resilience programmes, Humanitarian disarmament and Peace building (HDP).
Program Context:
Mandera County is characterised by arid and semi-arid climatic conditions, high temperatures, low and erratic rainfall, and recurrent droughts that severely affect livelihoods and food security. Livelihood systems are largely pastoral and agro-pastoral, making the area highly vulnerable to climate shocks and livestock losses. The county faces persistent challenges, including chronic water scarcity, inadequate health and education infrastructure, high poverty levels, limited access to quality basic services, and low literacy rates. Insecurity linked to cross-border tensions and the sporadic attack, has historically constrained development efforts, discouraged private sector investment, and disrupted service delivery in some parts of the county. Weak road networks and poor market access, particularly during drought and flooding seasons isolates remote areas also further limit economic growth and humanitarian access. Environmental degradation, overgrazing, and the impacts of climate change intensify pressure on natural resources, often contributing to communal and inter-clan conflicts over grazing land, water resources, and pastoral migration routes. Additionally, youth unemployment, gender inequality, limited financial inclusion and high reliance on humanitarian assistance continue to hinder socio-economic progress thus making resilience building, climate adaptation, peacebuilding and diversified livelihood opportunities essential for sustainable development.
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) Mandera continues to partner with local organizations with significant experience in the region especially in expertise in Economic recovery, WASH, Protection and HDP.This is in-line with DRC’s strategic focus on localization.
Below are key sectors and areas of focus:
Economic Recovery
The Economic Recovery (EcoRec) Sector is one of the core sectors and aims to ensure that immediate needs are covered through life-saving assistance while supporting conflict- and displacement-affected people to meet their essential needs independently and sustainably. The Sector focuses on strengthening individuals’ and households’ capacity to subsist and/or generate income and economic assets in a safe, dignified, and resilient manner, moving them away from long-term dependency on external aid toward self-reliance. The sector operates through three mutually reinforcing sub-sectors: Food Security, Financial Inclusion, and Decent Livelihoods, recognizing that access to nutritious food, stable income, and financial services are interconnected pillars of resilience. EcoRec programming includes interventions such as Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA), business grants, skills development, savings group support (VSLA), labor market assessments, climate-smart agriculture, and systems-based approaches that strengthen markets and institutions. The sector emphasizes quality across the project cycle through strong assessments, market analysis, modality selection tools, monitoring frameworks, and alignment with protection principles. Ultimately, EcoRec does not aim to recover entire economies but to restore and strengthen the economic capacity of individuals and households affected by shocks, enabling them to cope and recover from future stresses in a sustainable and dignified way across Mandera region.
WASH
The WASH sector is a key area of intervention for the Danish Refugee Council. The sector focuses on improving access to safe water, sanitation, shelter, and essential infrastructure for communities affected by climate shocks. DRC supports vulnerable households by providing temporary shelter, rehabilitating water infrastructure such as boreholes and shallow wells as well improving irrigation systems to increase water availability and promoting hygiene. In addition, DRC provides cash assistance and distributes essential non-food items (NFIs), including hygiene kits, bedding, and cooking utensils, to help displaced and vulnerable populations meet their basic needs and live with dignity.
The organization seeks partnerships with local organization to strengthen the delivery of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services in Mandera. Through collaboration, the organization aims to improve access to safe and sustainable water sources, enhance sanitation infrastructure, and promote hygiene practices among vulnerable communities. Such partnerships will support resource mobilization, technical capacity building, and community-led solutions that improve public health and resilience.
Protection
DRC Mandera is seeking to partner with local organizations especially Women-Led Organizations to strengthen the implementation of GBV prevention and support GBV disclosures through safe referrals, across Mandera region. Partnering with local actors aligns with DRC’s overall strategy of promoting locally led solutions, enhancing community ownership, and ensuring context-specific, culturally and religious appropriate interventions. Local organizations bring valuable knowledge of the local dynamics, trusted relationships with communities, and the ability to deliver timely and sustainable support. Through these partnerships, DRC aims to build the capacity of local structures, foster inclusive participation and contribute to more effective and impactful GBV and Child Protection programming in Mandera by applying a gender transformative lens across all activities.
Humanitarian Disarmament and Peace Building (HDP)
There is a long history of violent conflict between communities across Mandera region. Conflict drivers are linked to long-term pressures on pastoralist livelihoods, including climate change-related drought, population growth, VE, Clannism and land degradation (driven mainly by over- grazing) – which have increased the frequency and intensity of conflict. Resilience of local communities to climate-related shocks (e.g. drought and floods) links with communities’ access to diverse forms of human, social, economic capital – and to their capacity to develop, acquire or exchange these resources. Strengthening local communities’ capacity to prevent, manage and resolve violent conflict in the Mandera region is critical – as conflict otherwise significantly undermines and depletes communities’ diverse forms of capital and their resilience capacities, tipping communities further into crisis.
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) would like to partner with like-minded organizations with significant experience in HDP in the Mandera region, with a unique focus on peace building hence cooperating with local knowledge for sustainable development.
b). Rationale for Partnership
As part of the Mandera region programming, DRC is seeking to partner with local organizations to strengthen the implementation of Economic Recovery, WASH, Protection and HDP sector based projects. Therefore, partnering with local actors aligns with DRC’s overall strategy of promoting locally led solutions, enhancing community ownership, and ensuring context-specific, culturally appropriate interventions. Local organizations bring valuable knowledge of the local dynamics, trusted relationships with communities and the ability to deliver locally led timely and sustainable interventions that will bring impact to the persons of concern. Through these partnerships, DRC aims to build the capacity of local structures by giving them the opportunity to provide locally led solutions, foster inclusive participation and contribute to more effective and impactful programming in fragile context of Mandera.
Objectives of the Partnership
- Interventions will be aimed at supporting communities in Mandera region.
The program aims to strengthen the resilience, self-reliance, and well-being of vulnerable and displacement-affected households in Mandera County through integrated interventions across livelihoods, WASH, protection, and peacebuilding. It improves access to essential services, including safe water, sanitation, protection, and livelihood opportunities, while promoting sustainable economic recovery through income-generating activities, financial inclusion, and market system strengthening. The program addresses protection risks, including gender-based violence and child protection concerns, ensuring safe and inclusive community environments. Community capacity is strengthened to prevent, manage, and resolve conflicts, promote peaceful coexistence, and enhance local systems and structures that support social cohesion, environmental sustainability, and long-term recovery.
Technical Approach
The implementing partner (IP) will strengthen community resilience through integrated WASH, Economic Recovery, Protection and HDP interventions.
- WASH activities will focus on rehabilitating and maintaining water infrastructure, improving sanitation facilities, promoting hygiene practices, and distributing essential non-food items.
- Economic Recovery programming will include cash-based assistance, income-generating initiatives, Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA), skills development, systems-based approaches and support for small businesses to enhance self-reliance and economic empowerment.
- Protection interventions will address GBV and child protection risks, strengthen safe referral pathways, and ensure inclusive community environments.
- HDP focused activities will strengthen local peace committees, promote social cohesion across ethnic groups, facilitate conflict resolution, and strategically use digital platforms and social media for peace messaging and youth engagement. The IP will also implement transformative peace dividends initiatives targeting women and youth, linking livelihoods and economic empowerment to sustainable conflict prevention, resilience, and recovery.
Counties of Focus
This RFA is for implementation of activities in six (6) sub-counties of Mandera. (Banissa, Lafey, Mandera East, North, Mandera South, Mandera West)
Submission Requirements
Applicants should provide a comprehensive submission that includes the following information:
- A statement of interest explaining their motivation for partnering with DRC
- An organizational profile detailing their mandate, strategic focus, program and donor portfolio, and geographic reach; and initial ideas on how they can contribute to the program’s objectives.
- They should also highlight their value addition, outlining unique strengths, expertise, or resources they bring to the partnership.
- Submissions must include relevant experience with similar projects or programs in the Mandera region, their approach to community engagement in program design and an assessment of potential risks along with proposed mitigation strategies.
- Applicants should describe their experience in coordination mechanisms both formal and informal.
- Applicants must provide Audited financial reports for the last 2 years.
- Applicants should have proof of 2 years of working experience in the Mandera region.
Eligibility Criteria
Submissions will be reviewed and scored based on several key criteria as follows;
- Registration status of the organization. The organization MUST be an NGO/CBO that is legally registered with operations in Mandera region.
- The organization must have a clear and well-defined constitution outlining its mandate, purpose, membership structure, and whether it has employed staff.
- The organization must have been in existence and operational in Mandera county.
- The organization must demonstrate experience in implementing programmes in cross border areas for the last 2 years.
- The organization should demonstrate how its vision and mission align with DRC’s goals
- The organization should demonstrate a clear understanding of the target group they serve and their unique needs.
- Evidence of strong working relationships with relevant ministries and government department is desirable
- Basic Financial and Operational Capacity to implement a project.Disclaimer
Please note that submission in response to this call does not guarantee selection or funding.
DRC reserves the right to accept or reject any or all submissions without obligation or explanation. Shortlisted organizations may be asked to provide additional documentation, such as financial audits or references, as part of the due diligence process.
How to apply
Applicants must submit their proposals on or before 04th May 2026 Submissions should be in Word format and sent via email to KEN-Partnerships@DRC.NGO.
Proposals must be submitted in English. For any questions or clarifications, applicants may send their questions on or before 28 of April 2026 to KEN-Partnerships@DRC.NGO