Central African Republic

The Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the world’s most fragile and impoverished countries, with a population of approximately 5.74 million, where agriculture underpins the economy despite widespread poverty, informality, and low life expectancy. Decades of armed conflict, political instability, weak governance, and recurring humanitarian crises have displaced hundreds of thousands of people, disrupted education and essential services, and left much of the population reliant on humanitarian assistance. Climate change further compounds these challenges by threatening agriculture-based livelihoods through droughts, flooding, and environmental degradation, reinforcing cycles of food insecurity, poverty, and displacement. While substantial Official Development Assistance (ODA) supports humanitarian relief, peacebuilding, governance, health, education, food security, and climate resilience, development gains remain constrained by persistent insecurity, inadequate funding, and limited state capacity. Although the 2015 Constitution guarantees freedom of association and civic participation, ongoing conflict and weak institutional presence continue to restrict civic space and hinder effective humanitarian and development interventions.