Central African Republic | World Food Programme

Despite its agricultural potential and mineral wealth, the Central African Republic faces significant security issues and local inflation, worsened by global crises, all of which have led to a decline in living standards. A total 31 percent of the population has severe food insecurity.

The country has seen an influx of refugees due to the Sudan crisis, including returnees from CAR, in the northeastern region. In some locations, the refugee population is outnumbering local residents. Additionally, there are Chadian refugees and CAR returnees in the northwest.

These displacements significantly exacerbate food needs in areas already facing resource limitations, especially as they become isolated during the rainy season from June to December each year.

The World Food Programme (WFP) works to improve food security and nutrition for the most vulnerable people. WFP also addresses the root causes of hunger while strengthening local capacities and systems to enhance resilience against future shocks.

WFP plans to further integrate crisis response with early-recovery activities, assisting vulnerable populations in transitioning from crisis situations to conditional support, while bolstering food systems using home-grown school meal programmes as a foundation.

What the World Food Programme is doing in Central African Republic

Emergency response: WFP plays a crucial role in emergency response efforts, addressing the urgent food and nutrition needs of vulnerable communities. By distributing food, including specialized nutritious products, and providing cash-based assistance, WFP ensures that those affected by conflict, instability and climate shocks can access essential resources. As conditions improve and stability returns to certain areas, WFP supports refugees and internally displaced people in their journey back home, focusing on rebuilding livelihoods. Additionally, WFP’s school-meal programmes enhance children's nutrition and encourage higher school attendance, fostering resilience in regions severely impacted by food insecurity.
Nutrition support: Working with the Ministry of Health, WFP and partners implement malnutrition prevention activities, including direct nutritional assistance, to improve the nutritional status of children aged 6-23 months and pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls. Screening can see referrals to nearest health facilities for treatment.
Early recovery and resilience: To help build long-term resilience, WFP is working to improve the nutrition of vulnerable groups including children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with disabilities and HIV patients. WFP is also implementing an operational pilot to improve coverage and quality for the supplementation treatment of moderate wasting (low height for age) in children under 5 and pregnant and breastfeeding nursing women. As part of our revised response operation, 36,000 children under 5 will receive specialized nutritious fortified foods each day, as part of a programme designed for the treatment and prevention of malnutrition. This programme also supports access to vaccination, improved water and sanitation, health training and women’s empowerment.
Capacity strengthening: WFP is committed to building local capacity to enhance long-term food security and resilience. WFP collaborates with national institutions, local authorities and communities to strengthen their ability to design, implement and manage sustainable food systems and social safety nets. Through targeted training, technical assistance and knowledge sharing, WFP helps improve local capacities in areas such as supply chain management, nutrition and school-meal programmes. By empowering communities and government agencies, WFP’s capacity-strengthening efforts aim to reduce dependency on external aid and foster a self-sustaining approach to addressing food insecurity in CAR.
Support to smallholder farmers: WFP supports smallholder farmers, shock-affected communities, and those hosting refugees, by helping restore and improve productive assets. This enhances food security, boosts productivity and builds resilience. Asset creation and livelihood activities integrate an approach known as Smallholder Agricultural Market Support, enabling farmers and value chain actors to grow crops, reduce post-harvest losses, and access markets and financing. These efforts improve incomes, strengthen nutrition and promote resilient, gender-transformative food systems. WFP also sources food for school meals and distributions from smallholder farmers – over 50 percent of whom are women – ensuring local empowerment benefits broader communities.
UNHAS: WFP supports the humanitarian community by providing essential logistics and communication services. Through the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), it ensures reliable air transport to remote, insecure areas lacking commercial flights. WFP also leads the on-demand service, offering vital logistical support. Despite funding challenges, UNHAS continues serving 19 regular and 7 ad hoc destinations. As no local commercial operators meet safety standards in the Central African Republic, UNHAS remains the sole humanitarian air service. These efforts enable fast, safe access to vulnerable communities, ensuring life-saving assistance reaches those in need despite difficult conditions.

Publications

In focus

WFP and UNICEF fight child wasting where it hits hardest

Story | 27 May 2025

Food, education and farming: CAR welcomes in Sudanese refugees

Story | 28 April 2025

Explainer: How WFP’s supply chain works to tackle hunger

Story | 9 April 2025

Flying against hunger: How UNHAS delivers in emergencies

Story | 2 April 2025

Rebuilding resilience in restive Central African Republic

Story | 13 December 2024

UNHAS at 20: Humanitarian response planes and helicopters touch down in tough places

Story | 16 February 2024

Partners and donors

Achieving Zero Hunger is the work of many. Our work in Central African Republic is made possible by the support and collaboration of our partners and donors, including:

Canada European Commission France Germany Luxembourg

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Operations in Central African Republic

Central African Republic country strategic plan (2023–2027)

CF02 - Country Strategic Plan (CSP)

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Contacts

Office

Bangui Rue de l'amp #39 Universite, Bangui, Republique CentrAfricaine, BP 1048 Bangui, Republique CentrAfricaine
Bangui
Central African Republic

Phone

+236 21 614926

Fax

+236 21 611905

Email

WFP.Bangui@wfp.org

For media inquiries

WFP.Bangui@wfp.org

What the World Food Programme is doing in Central African Republic

Emergency response

Nutrition support

Early recovery and resilience

Capacity strengthening

Support to smallholder farmers

UNHAS