The proposed pn)ject responds to the immediate need for emergency suppmt to social and economic reintegratîon for these ex-Forces Democratiques de Liberation du Rwanda (FDLR) members, referred to as 'Phase 65' of the Rwanda Demobilization and Repatriation Programme, and their dependents. This caseload comprises a total of 1.635 oersons reoatriated from 19 to 27 November2018 from DRC through a Government-led operation, including 554 ex-combatants (553 adult men and 1 woman), 249 women and 832 children (412 boys and 420 giris).

This project is anchored in the RDRP Stage IV, funded by the GoR. The RDRP Stage IV funding gap to be covered by this project is due to several factors, such as the large size of this specific group of repatriated combatants as compared to the previous groups received by the RDRC and the sudden financial pressure that this poses to the already approved government budgets. In addition, it is also important to recognize the inherent financial limitations experienced over the years to sustain long­term socio-economic reîntegration, in particular through community-based approaches. The Jack of appropriate reintegration support during this critical phase of the return process of this caseload may generate security risks for host communities and the country and lead to re-recruitmcnt into armed groups in DRC and the reignition of the conflict with a regional impact.