Assessing the Demand for Goods and Services (Financial and Non-Financial) Among Refugees and IDPs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The document identifies a significant untapped market of approximately 5 million refugees and IDPs in the Great Lakes region, specifically focusing on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Research indicates that while these populations have substantial aggregate spending power—with IDPs alone estimated to spend over $1 billion annually on household expenses—they lack access to formal financial products. The briefing highlights opportunities for businesses to provide micro-loans, affordable electricity, improved money transfer services, and more effective utility payment systems, noting that high rates of mobile phone ownership and the possession of formal identification cards facilitate these interventions.

• The Great Lakes region, including the DRC and five neighboring countries, contains approximately 5 million refugees and IDPs, consisting of 4.5 million IDPs and 0.5 million refugees.
• There is significant aggregate spending power among IDPs in the DRC; 2.15 million displaced adults are estimated to spend more than $1 billion annually on various household expenses.
• Mobile phone access is high among these populations, with 75% of refugees and IDPs owning or having access to mobile phones.
• There is a critical lack of electricity among refugees, who have nearly 0% access to a consistent power source, creating a market for solar energy or generators, potentially via Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) schemes.
• Financial inclusion is low, with a widespread need for short-term loans for emergencies or business startups, though most current borrowing is informal through friends and family.
• Income sources vary by region: in South Kivu and Tanganyika, cash and voucher assistance from humanitarian organizations or government are primary, whereas IDPs in Kasai rely on salaried or odd jobs and family support.

APA

FSD Africa (2020). Assessing the Demand for Goods and Services (Financial and Non-Financial) Among Refugees and IDPs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Demand-for-goods-and-services-for-refugess-summary-17.06.20.pdf

Chicago

FSD Africa. Assessing the Demand for Goods and Services (Financial and Non-Financial) Among Refugees and IDPs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 2020. https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Demand-for-goods-and-services-for-refugess-summary-17.06.20.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=FSD Africa |title=Assessing the Demand for Goods and Services (Financial and Non-Financial) Among Refugees and IDPs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo |date=May 2020 |url=https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Demand-for-goods-and-services-for-refugess-summary-17.06.20.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{fsdafrica2020assessing, author = {{FSD Africa}}, title = {{Assessing the Demand for Goods and Services (Financial and Non-Financial) Among Refugees and IDPs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo}}, institution = {FSD Africa}, year = {2020}, month = may, url = {https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Demand-for-goods-and-services-for-refugess-summary-17.06.20.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }