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

This briefing note, based on 2018 research by FSD Africa and ELAN RDC, assesses the demand for financial and non-financial goods and services among refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It identifies a significant, underserved market with substantial aggregate spending power, particularly among IDPs, and highlights opportunities for financial service providers in micro-loans, digital credit, and utility payment systems.

• As of December 31, 2017, the DRC had Africa's largest displaced population with 4.49 million IDPs, of which over 60% are under 18. The most affected provinces were North Kivu, Tanganyika, and South Kivu, with the rate of displacement doubling from 2016 to 2017.
• The DRC hosted 532,456 refugees as of March 2019, primarily from Rwanda, Central African Republic, South Sudan, and Burundi. Most refugees from Rwanda and Burundi are located in the eastern provinces (North and South Kivu), while those from CAR and South Sudan are mainly in the north.
• There is significant aggregate spending power among displaced populations. Adult IDPs living in host communities are estimated to spend over $1 billion annually on various household expenses. For refugees in camps and settlements, annual extrapolated spending is estimated at $28.5 million for food/beverages and $5.8 million for hygiene and personal care.
• Financial inclusion is low, with refugees and IDPs reporting limited access to formal or informal financial products. However, there is a widespread need for short-term loans for emergencies or business startups. Most current loans are small informal amounts from friends and family, averaging $18.50 for refugees in South Kivu and under $20 for IDPs in Kasai.
• The report identifies four primary business opportunities: offering micro-loans and digital credit for emergencies, supplying affordable electricity (such as solar or generators) via PAYG schemes, boosting domestic money transfer services for IDPs, and improving the efficiency of utility payments.

APA

FSD Africa (2019). 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/DRC-Refugees-Briefing-note-final-June-2019.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. 2019. https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DRC-Refugees-Briefing-note-final-June-2019.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=June 2019 |url=https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DRC-Refugees-Briefing-note-final-June-2019.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{fsdafrica2019assessing, 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 = {2019}, month = jun, url = {https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DRC-Refugees-Briefing-note-final-June-2019.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }