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Republic of the Congo

Rich in Resources But Hungry

The Republic of Congo is a resource-rich, middle-income country, however, it continues to face high levels of poverty and inequality, recurring localized conflict and regional insecurity.
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Decades of Conflict and Displacement

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, hunger and conflict fuel one another. More than 25 years of conflict and displacement have left millions struggling to access food and meet their basic needs.

Republic of the Congo Facts

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Population: 6.5 million people.
Background: The Republic of the Congo gained independence from France in 1960. Internal conflicts in the 1990s that damaged infrastructure and livelihoods.
Geography & Climate: The Republic of the Congo is in Central Africa, bordering Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola’s Cabinda exclave, and the Atlantic Ocean. Its terrain includes coastal plains, central plateaus, river basins, and tropical forests; flooding along the Congo and Ubangi river systems regularly damages homes, fields, roads and markets.
Economy: Congo is a resource-rich country whose economy depends heavily on oil, natural resources and subsistence agriculture. Oil-price shocks, debt pressure, limited jobs and high poverty reduce household purchasing power and make families vulnerable when food prices rise.

Causes of Hunger in Republic of the Congo

Annie Mossouho’ family crossing the river on their way to the forest in Pokola, Sangha Department. Covering six countries, including the Republic of Congo, the Congo Rainforest and Basin is the second-largest tropical forest in the world and one of the most important natural areas on the planet. The forest is home for a variety of endangered species and provides food, fresh water, medicine, and shelter for millions of people, including indigenous communities, who are highly dependent on its natural resources to survive. The Republic of Congo (Congo) is a resource-rich, lower middle-income, food-deficit country that produces only 30% of the national food requirements. The country has been experiencing a prolonged recession since 2015, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. While Congo had not yet recovered from the socio-economic impact of the global pandemic, the war in Ukraine has led to a surge in food prices. The seriousness of this inflation was recognised by the Government, which developed a food crisis resilience plan on March 30, 2022. In Congo, 33.3% of the population is food insecure (4% of whom are severely food insecure) and 19.6% of children under the age of five suffer from chronic malnutrition. WFP's main activity in Republic of Congo is school feeding, implemented in 532 public primary schools. Thanks to the strong partnership between WFP and the Government and the continued support of donors, 173,171 children from 10 departments receive a nutritious meal every school day, with the dual aim of promoting school attendance and protecting the food security of vulnerable households. Through the home-grown school feeding approach (HGSF), WFP provided cash to 144 of the 532 schools to purchase food in nearby markets, contributing to local economic development. The school feeding programme is part of WFP's country strategic plan (2019-2024) to combine humanitarian aid and development assistance. This programme encourages families to send their childr

Climate Shocks

Recurrent flooding is one of the most direct drivers of hunger. Floods destroy crops, submerge farmland, damage roads, and interrupt access to markets, health services, and schools. Up to 300,000 people can be affected by flooding each year, while the 2023–2024 floods were far larger and disrupted livelihoods across most of the country.
Christine, 32 years old, with her young children in the centre of the village Mawangui which was flooded in 2019 and 2020.

Extreme Poverty

Nearly half the population lives in poverty, leaving many households unable to absorb shocks such as illness, crop loss, inflation or job loss. It results in widespread hunger and malnutrition to poverty.

History of Hunger in Congo

1997-1999
Civil War
The Republic of the Congo Civil War involved rival militias and political factions, causing mass displacement and damaging infrastructure. The war disrupted agriculture, transportation and markets, creating long-term vulnerability in affected areas.
2014-2022
Oil Decline
The 2014 oil-price collapse triggered a prolonged economic crisis, cutting income and raising poverty.
2016-2018
Pool Conflict
Renewed violence in Pool Department region displaced thousands and created needs for food and shelter. WFP and supported emergency response planning for displaced and conflict-affected communities.
2020-
COVID-19
COVID-19 restrictions and lower global oil demand hit Congo’s oil-dependent economy. The shock worsened poverty, jobs and food supply.
2023–2024
Record Floods
Floods affected 1.8 million people across the country, damaging farms, homes, schools and health facilities. WFP supported response and resilience efforts.

WFP’s Work in the Congo

WFP has been present in the Republic of Congo since 2000. The UN agency provides assistance to food-insecure populations via the following programs:
A large cargo plane sits on the tarmac in front of pallets of supplies waiting to be loaded.
Emergency Relief
WFP provides food or cash assistance and nutrition support to 108,600 vulnerable people, including refugee and asylum seekers, and people impacted by shocks and crises, including conflict and floods.
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Donelvie, an indigenous girl, with her school meal In the Republic of Congo, the indigenous people represent 2% to 5% of the population and are among the most marginalized and vulnerable groups. These populations have precarious living conditions: half of the children do not have a birth certificate and two-thirds of indigenous children do not attend school. Historically marginalized socially, economically and politically, these groups are all the more vulnerable because they have limited access to social protection. In February 2020, a program financed by the Joint SDG Fund to improve indigenous peoples' access to social protection was launched. This project is a joint effort of WFP, WHO, UNICEF and the Congolese government. Planned for a period of two years, it will be implemented in 5 districts of the Lékoumou department (Sibiti, Mayéyé, Komono, Zanaga, Bambama). In this programme, WFP provides school meals in indigenous schools, nutrition items in health centers, and supports indigenous smallholders’ farmers groups.
School Meals
WFP provides daily hot school meals to 126,000 schoolchildren across 452 public schools. This improves children’s nutrition and education. School meals include food donated from overseas and home-grown food.
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a woman smiles softly in her yard
Small-Scale Farmers
WFP provides small-scale farmers with technical support and training to boost their food production, storage and transport to markets.
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Latest News From Republic of the Congo

  • News Release
  • December 23, 2025

WFP Scaling up Assistance to People Displaced by Violence in Eastern DRC as Resources Risk Running Out
Farhia Ali and her daughter Ruqiya at a health clinic in Mogadishu.
  • News Release
  • October 15, 2025

WFP Warns That Six Critical Operations Are Facing Significant Food Aid Pipeline Breaks by Year-End

  • Blog
  • September 10, 2021

With Loving, Tender Care: A Tribute to Grandparents on the Frontlines of the Fight Against Childhood Hunger

  • Blog
  • August 9, 2021

WFP-Backed School Meals Promote Social Inclusion Among Indigenous Peoples

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