The mandate and core sectors of expertise determine the main areas of DR C assistance. However, DR C will always strive to maximise programme impact by seeking complementarity in programming. This is done by seeking strategic alliances with other agencies that specialise in sectors or geographical areas which can complement DR C’s own programme.

The aim of this operational principle of inter-agency complementarity is to make the most of the resources available and thus ensure the most relevant, efficient and effective DR C intervention, which does not duplicate that of other agencies, but rather complement these. In addition, the operational principle of complementarity is closely linked to the principle of Do No Harm. By paying attention to complementarity, the assistance community works to ensure that agencies do not jeopardize each other’s strategies and objectives.

In acute crisis, an example of the application of the principle of complementarity is when DR C undertakes food distribution, which complements that of WFP – either in terms of geographical coverage or by distributing food packages, which in contents supplement WFP’s food packs.

In a displacement and durable solutions’ scenario, an example of inter-agency complementarity would be when certain components of a DR C project are done jointly with one or more agencies or when another agency is complementing the DR C intervention. In DR C’s integrated livelihood projects, DR C often covers quite a few livelihood aspects but not all. Educational and health software are examples of activities where other agencies are likely to complement DR C’s livelihood intervention.