CAR, UNICEF, Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) 2024

The humanitarian context in the Central African Republic (CAR) improved in 2023 compared to the past five years. However, persistent challenges remain, including insecurity, displacement from Sudan and Chad, climate change, and economic impacts of wars in Ukraine and Palestine. However, the country remains volatile due to clashes between the armed forces and armed groups, particularly in border areas.

In a country where the population must live (or survive) on a daily basis, and which must (re)build itself over several years. An instrument like the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) is crucial and the mechanism remains extremely relevant in a country where institutional capacity is insufficient.

Specific objective: Improve the living conditions of vulnerable households newly affected by a shock due to violence, natural disaster, displacements, or epidemics.

The specific objectives of the RRM are threefold:

• Maintain a humanitarian alert system and conduct rapid needs assessment to inform RRM partners and the humanitarian community.
• Provide essential non-food items (NFI) and ensure access to basic Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH) services to the most vulnerable people.
• Strengthen synergies and complementarities with humanitarian actors through the established humanitarian architecture (notably the ICCG and HCT) for more effective information sharing.

Expected results:   RRM will target 180,000 beneficiaries with NFI kits under same modalities like previous years, Kit distribution to 32,560 households (162,800 individuals) and Direct Cash Transfer to 3,440 households (17,200 individuals).

Results from previous phases:  

In 2023, the RRM continued to play a critical role in the humanitarian response in CAR, covering about 75 percent of the country with an effective monitoring system. The RRM provided assistance to 245,794 people, of which 102,807 people with WASH assistance, 135,113 with essential household items, and 7,874 people through cash transfers. The RRM also mobilized non-RRM actors to provide complementary assistance in particular, food assistance and emergency shelter.

It enables agile response in a fluid environment, promotes coordination and cooperation between partners who jointly assess and prioritize needs through an inclusive process, and lowers transaction costs through centralized purchasing.