Central African Republic

The Situation

The past three decades of socio-political challenges in the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) have been characterized by instability, coup d’états and the establishment of uncontrolled armed elements contesting for control over territory as well as access to economic and natural resources.

Despite its agro-ecological and mining potential, the country remains one of the poorest in the world. Following decades of political and economic crises, the country has experienced weakened social indicators and fragile social and economic infrastructure. Moreover, the violent conflict since 2012 has affected the entire population and placed more than half of the population in dire need of humanitarian assistance. According to the UNDP 2015 Human Development Report, 84 percent of the population lives on less than $2 a day, with nearly half the population facing extreme multi-dimensional poverty.

WFP's Work

WFP has been present in C.A.R. since 1969. WFP assists the internally displaced, host communities and affected local populations through general food distributions, food for asset recovery activities and agricultural support through Purchase for Progress, complementing in-kind support with cash, food vouchers or e-cards. In addition, WFP provides blanket supplementary feeding for affected households with children aged 6 months to 23 months, and treatment services for moderately acute malnourished children aged 6 months to 59 months, as well as pregnant and nursing women. WFP also provides school meals to conflict-affected schoolchildren.

In 2016, WFP plans to assist 997,000 people in the C.A.R., an increase from 923,000 in 2015, when WFP provided approximately 33,000 tons of food and $1.1 million.