The Issue
In eastern Central African Republic, thousands of families face daily hunger. Conflict, repeated displacement, and climate shocks have devastated farming and trade. In Ouadda, Bria, Ippy and Yalinga, more than half of the population struggles to feed their families — with many surviving on one meal a day.
Armed group attacks and poor road access isolate entire villages, cutting people off from markets and humanitarian aid. At the same time, climate change brings floods and droughts that destroy harvests and reduce food stocks. In these areas, 40 % of households have poor food consumption, and 61 % resort to crisis-level coping strategies.
For farmers, the lack of seeds and tools means entire seasons are lost. Many families eat the little seed they have to survive the lean months, deepening their dependence on humanitarian assistance.
The Project
This project protected lives and restored livelihoods by combining emergency food support, agricultural recovery, and rapid crisis response:
1. Emergency food assistance: 6,430 vulnerable households received food vouchers or cash to cover essential needs during the lean season. Distributions were adapted to each area’s context – through food fairs or pre-packed food baskets – using the secure Red Rose electronic system.
2. Agricultural recovery: 3,210 farming families received seeds, tools, and training through farmer field schools and community gardens. Crops included maize, peanuts, sesame, and vegetables, chosen for their local relevance. These inputs were coupled with food assistance to protect seeds from being eaten during hunger gaps.
3. Crisis modifier: When floods, violence or new displacement occur, a rapid response mechanism provided immediate cash assistance to affected households within 72 hours.
The Change
The project aimed to improved food security and strenghten livelihoods for 41,150 people in Ippy, Bria, Ouadda, and Yalinga. Through combined emergency food assistance, agricultural recovery and rapid crisis response, the project helped vulnerable households move from coping to recovery.
Families who once relied on aid to survive the lean season were be able to meet their food needs and build reserves for several months. With quality seeds, tools and training, small farmers increased their production and diversified their diets – from two months of self-sufficiency in the beginning to up to seven months by the end of the project.
When new shocks occur, crisis modifier mechanisms allowed DCA and partners to respond within 72 hours, providing immediate cash or food support. Together, these efforts not only saved lives but also restored dignity and resilience for thousands of families across eastern CAR.
The Partner
Bria Londo, a national NGO with strong community roots, leads field activities in Bria and Ippy, including training, awareness sessions and beneficiary monitoring. Bria Londo also coordinates rapid response actions and supports crisis early warning systems in collaboration with DCA.
About the project
Title: Emergency food security and essential non-food assistance for vulnerable households in the sub-prefectures of Ippy (Ouaka), Bria, Ouadda and Yalinga (Haute-Kotto), Central African Republic
Period: April 2024 to March 2026
Partner: Bria Londo
Amount: 2,684,210 €
Expected number of people reached: 41,150
Donors: ECHO (European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations)
