Farmers at their communal food store near the village of Kolongo. Photo: Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide.

Central African Republic

Why Central African Republic? We have been operational in the Central African Republic (CAR) since March 2014. The overall goals of our programme in CAR are to provide humanitarian assistance, build the resilience of communities and to alleviate the suffering of conflict-affected communities.

The 'hungriest country' in the world

In the 2018 Global Hunger Index (GHI), CAR was the one country with hunger levels classified as 'extremely alarming'. Recent conflict has severely affected the livelihoods and living conditions of over half of the 4.6 million population.

Conflict has forced over one million people from their homes in CAR, with almost half of those fleeing to neighbouring countries. The number of people in need has increased by 13% since March 2018, primarily driven by ongoing conflict affecting households’ livelihoods and access to food.

The country also has one of the world's highest rates of child mortality.

*Albert has struggled since being attacked by militia in Central African Republic. Photo: Caitriona Dowd / Concern Worldwide.

I have feelings of pain, because I have lost all that I had. The standard of living is very hard here… In my home village, I lived on the fruits of my cattle and my field. Here, I cannot make ends meet.

Albert - Concern beneficiary

Latest achievements

Health and nutrition

Our emergency and development programmes reached over 70,000 beneficiaries with improved health and nutrition services.

Clean water

Integrated programme

Elianna holds her daughter Laureine at Bossembele hospital. Laureine is 21 months old and severely malnourished. Concern organised transportation from her village to the hospital – the cost of which would be too high for most people. Photo: Chris de Bode / Panos Pictures.

Elianna holds her daughter Laureine at Bossembele hospital. Photo: Chris de Bode / Panos Pictures.

Children set up a stall to sell their wares to early morning passers-by in the town of Kouango, Central African Republic. This is one of the poorest areas of one of the poorest countries in the world. Photo: Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide.

Children set up a stall to sell their wares in the town of Kouango. Photo: Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide.

Former Concern Chairman, Tom Shipsey, and Regional Director, Reka Sztop, at a mobile health clinic run by Concern Worldwide at Bougoin, Central African Republic. This is one of fourteen such mobile clinics, which is designed to facilitate people who are far removed from fixed health facilities. Photo: Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide.

Concern representatives at a mobile health clinic in Bougoin. Photo: Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide.

Fabien Makongo is Concern’s Programme Manager for Food Security and Livelihoods in Bossembele, Central African Republic. Photo: Chris de Bode / Panos Pictures.

Concern's Fabien Makongo in Bossembele. Photo: Chris de Bode / Panos Pictures.

Fishermen in Kouango, CAR, steer a dugout canoe, which is often used to access remote river communities on the banks of the Oubangui, which seperates CAR and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Photo: Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide.

Fishermen in Kouango, CAR, steer a dugout canoe. Photo: Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide.

How we’re helping CAR

We're working hard to alleviate suffering and build resilience for conflict affected communities in Central African Republic.

Latest news from Central African Republic

Three of Natalie Wato's children - Davilla, Patricia and Gaus with their friends from the village of Gbatin. Photographer: Darren Vaughan

News

30 October 2020

How UK aid is helping us combat child malnutrition in the world’s hungriest country

We've launched a new programme that will transform the lives of those living in the world’s hungriest country, the Central African Republic (CAR).

Matron Emielliene Mapouka (39) with six-month-old Rosalia and mum Hortense Mbolidere. Photo: Chris de Bode/Panos for Concern, CAR

Press release30 October 2020

Concern Worldwide raises £1.8 million to help women and children break free from hunger

Cherica (2) washes her hands in front of her grandmother's home in Cite Soleil, a district of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Photo: Dieu Nalio Chery/ Concern Worldwide

Story11 October 2020

Global Hunger Index: Is the world on track to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030?

Health clinic in the Central African Republic, 2019. Photo: Darren Vaughan / Chris de Bode

Story

20 November 2019

The long road to recovery for CAR's weakened health clinics

I woke in the middle of the night to the chilling cries of a mother in a neighbouring house. I didn’t understand what she was shouting in Sango. But what I did know was that she was in mourning. At dawn, we learned that her young daughter had died

Sunrise on the main street in Kouango, Central African Republic, where Concern is working with some of the poorest communities in the world.

News

11 November 2019

CAR: Underdeveloped; underfunded and under-reported

We delve into the past, present and future of the Central African Republic (CAR), taking a look at why it is one of the world’s poorest countries and what exactly can be done to support its vulnerable communities.

Nadine is a Concern-supported Mama Lumiere – or ‘lead mother’ in her community. Pictured are some of her belongings. Photo: Chris de Bode

Story30 September 2019

Free From Hunger online exhibition: the Central African Republic

Organisations who fund us

Irish Aid

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO)

Irish Aid

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NFI materials being distributed by Concern in masisi, DRC. Photo: Kieran McConville/Concern Worldwide

Help those in need across the world

Our mission is to permanently transform the lives of people living in extreme poverty.
When an emergency strikes we are among the first on the ground.
We go to the ends of earth to deliver aid where it's needed most.

Donate now