DROPSTONE Advisory Services

Humanitarian Affairs & Development

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Strategic Planning Mission in Juba, South Sudan

15.02.2026

In November 2025, DROPSTONE led and facilitated an intensive five-day strategic planning engagement with SVDP in Juba, designed to strengthen the organisation’s long-term impact and institutional resilience. The assignment mobilised DROPSTONE’s structured, field-tested methodology for participatory strategy development. Through a sequence of facilitated diagnostics, prioritisation exercises, scenario discussions, and implementation design sessions, the full staff team contributed to building a realistic and actionable five-year roadmap. The approach ensures that strategy is not produced for the organisation, but with it—creating clarity of direction, operational focus, and strong internal ownership. By the end of the week, SVDP had: a shared vision for

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Laying the Foundations – Strategic Groundwater Development – Hodh El Chargui

15.06.2026

The Geneva Water Hub, as part of its “Water for Peace” initiatives, commissioned DROPSTONE to conduct an exploratory groundwater assessment in the Hodh El Chargui region of eastern Mauritania. The region has faced growing pressure on water resources due to the large influx of refugees fleeing insecurity in neighboring Mali. In this predominantly pastoral area, groundwater is essential for both domestic use and livestock watering. Hodh El Chargui now hosts nearly one-third of Mauritania’s national herd, making access to reliable groundwater supplies both a humanitarian and socio-economic priority. In such a fragile context, water management can either fuel tensions or

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Peace Dividends in Chad

15.06.2026

DROPSTONE supported a peace mediation project implemented by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) in Chad. As in many countries of the Sahel region, conflicts frequently arise between cattle herders and farmers over access to limited natural resources. In Kanem Province, intercommunal fighting led to the destruction or deterioration of numerous water points, preventing both communities from accessing safe drinking water. This situation is particularly alarming given the arid conditions of the Sahara Desert. HD facilitated dialogue between the communities and, through sustained grassroots mediation efforts, helped them reach agreements to peacefully share water supply systems. As part of this

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Evaluation – Advancing Women’s Voices – Democratic Republic of Congo

16.03.2026

From 2018 to 2024, The Carter Center implemented the Women’s Voice and Leadership (WVL) project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with support from Global Affairs Canada under Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy. In a context marked by persistent poverty, conflict, and entrenched gender inequalities, the project aimed to strengthen the voice, leadership, and rights of women and girls. DROPSTONE was selected as the independent evaluator to assess the project’s relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact, while identifying lessons learned to inform possible future phases of the initiative. Implemented across six provinces, the project focused on strengthening local Women’s

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Supporting Governance and Humanitarian Access in the Central African Republic (2015–2023)

15.06.2026

From 2015 to 2023, our team provided sustained strategic and operational support to public institutions in the Central African Republic during a critical period of political transition. We worked closely with the former Transitional Government and subsequently with the newly elected authorities, contributing to the identification and definition of key state priorities and supporting efforts to strengthen institutional governance. Our engagement also included the evaluation of a program designed to support political dialogue in the country, implemented by the Humanitarian Dialogue Centre. Following this assessment, we continued to assist the local team through regular remote exchanges and twice-yearly field visits,

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Groundwater Management & Climate Resilience – Sughd Region, Tajikistan

15.06.2026

In 2023, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) commissioned Dropstone to conduct a scoping study on groundwater management in the Sughd region of northern Tajikistan. The objective was to assess current practices and identify opportunities to strengthen the role of hydrogeology in climate change adaptation strategies. Located in the rapidly growing Fergana Valley, the region increasingly relies on groundwater to support agriculture and drinking water supply. The study reviewed institutional frameworks, technical capacities, and hydrogeological data systems, while engaging with national and regional stakeholders to identify priorities for future support. The assessment highlighted the need to strengthen coordination

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