Project profile — Central African Republic - Common Humanitarian Fund - UNDP 2016

March 2016 - Following a coup d’état in March 2013, the humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) deteriorated rapidly, as inter-communal violence spun out of control and led to thousands of deaths, massive human displacement, and grave human rights abuses. Despite a transitional government in place and the presence of international troops, including a 10,000-person strong United Nations peacekeeping mission (MINUSCA), communities across CAR continue to be plagued by violence, armed criminality, and widespread humanitarian needs. At present, more than 2.3 million people, more than half the population, require humanitarian assistance, over 480,000 people are internally displaced, and 450,000 are living in neighbouring countries as refugees. Widespread insecurity and looting of humanitarian actors are hindering their ability to respond to needs relating to widespread food insecurity, high levels of child malnutrition, and maternal and child mortality rates among the highest in the world. GAC and other donors are providing funding to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the Central African Republic Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF). This Fund provides timely allocations to national and international NGOs as well as UN agencies to address some of the most critical humanitarian needs in CAR. The CHF’s main objectives include: (1) supporting timely responses to sudden crises and critical gaps in humanitarian operations; (2) supporting the transportation of humanitarian supplies and personnel as well as improved communications and storage capacity; and (3) capacity-building for national non-governmental organizations, equipping them with strengthened financial and management tools to implement humanitarian responses.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access for the most vulnerable to life-saving humanitarian assistance (e.g. food, nutrition, health, protection, shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene support); (2) increased capacity of the humanitarian system to respond to urgent needs; and (3) increased capacity among national humanitarian organizations to effectively respond to urgent needs. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved, suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.

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