The Central African Republic (CAR) is a highly fragile country with a history of...
The Central African Republic (CAR) is a highly fragile country with a history of recurrent conflict, the most recent of which took place in 2013 between multiple armed groups. The violence that followed the 2013 crisis greatly damaged public assets and infrastructure, disrupted service delivery, and further weakened the social fabric, and exacerbated people’s poverty and vulnerability to shocks. As a result, roughly one-quarter of the population was internally displaced or had to flee as refugees to neighboring countries. Forced displacement has disrupted livelihoods, depleted the assets of the poor, and put an additional strain on service delivery in areas of displacement.
Improvements in the security situation have resulted in the voluntary return of displaced populations, primarily in the northwest and southwest of the country. It is estimated that about 15 to 20 percent of the displaced population has returned spontaneously. However, the return of the displaced to the areas of origin remains fragile and dependent on the overall security situation. The reintegration of displaced populations and provision of social safety nets is a short term priority and essential to the stabilization and economic revitalization of the country.
To this end, the World Bank is supporting the Government of CAR to implement a project to increase access to basic services, infrastructure and social safety needs by communities affected by forced displacement. Among several deliverables in this implementation phase, the project through UNOPS will be constructing/rehabilitating several infrastructure’s project; conducting several socioeconomics’ activities such as conducting the selection of most vulnerable household among the displaced population and conducting also the distribution of funds to the selected population in the following regions: Kaga-bandoro, Batafongo, Bria and Bambari.
The project adopts a multifaceted approach in support of communities affected by displacement in CAR and it entails:
1) support to enhance the delivery of local services and availability of local infrastructure to benefit communities impacted by displacement;
2) financial support to the most vulnerable households among displaced populations and local communities;
3) working with local communities and displaced populations to enhance their capacity to address the impact of displacement and promote peaceful coexistence of different groups; and
4) to enable local authorities (territorial administration and communes) to participate in planning and overseeing the execution of all activities executed under this project