Building roads to build peace: Our experience in the Central African Republic

The Emergency Infrastructure and Connectivity Recovery Project (EICRP) is transforming the northeastern regions of the Central African Republic thanks to the construction or rehabilitation of 900 kilometers of roads. But this project is about so much more than just improving infrastructure. It is a vital step toward economic development and security in a long-isolated region. As the roads open new horizons, they also become a key channel for building peace.

New roads for new opportunities

The landlocked Central African Republic has long suffered from a lack of road infrastructure, aggravated by the 2013 politico-military conflict that divided the country and saw the emergence of several armed groups, making road construction work difficult and contributing significantly to the deterioration of living conditions. Before the project was launched in 2021, the northeast of the Central African Republic was one of the most isolated regions in the country. Impassable roads made it exceedingly hard for communities to access markets, health care, and education. This geographical isolation put a major brake on economic development, limiting opportunities for inhabitants and local businesses alike. Little by little, better roads have helped the region open up and reconnect with the rest of the country. “Before work started, it was almost impossible to sell our products because the roads were so bad. The work to improve the roads has given us new prospects, especially as transport costs have really come down,” explained Pierre Ngassima, a 38-year-old laborer from Ndele.

Some 400 kilometers of roads have been rehabilitated to date, connecting towns that used to be virtually inaccessible. This work has provided year-round transport access to over 100,000 people and cut travel times between towns from several days to just a few hours, greatly improving access to essential services such as health facilities and schools.

The road improvements have also provided a major boost to the local economy. In just a few years, the quantity of registered goods entering the newly improved areas has nearly doubled from 20,000 to 30,000 metric tons. Farmers can now send their products to urban markets, raising their income considerably. Once hampered by distance and poor roads, trade is booming and small businesses are thriving.

Roads and peace: A winning combination

In addition to the economic impact of opening up access to the Northeast, connectivity is playing a significant role in improving security in the region. The Central African Republic has long been marked by internal conflicts and the Northeast is no exception. Poor roads previously made travel difficult for security forces, leaving communities vulnerable to attacks by armed groups.

Road rehabilitation has completely changed the situation, bringing clear benefits to local residents.

The region’s population grew by nearly 38%, from 94,000 to 152,070 inhabitants, between 2019 and 2024. Some 88,000 displaced persons have made their way home, thanks mainly to improved security conditions. As a result of the project, security forces, humanitarian organizations, and emergency services can now move around more quickly and efficiently, which has gone a long way in protecting local communities and helping to stabilize the region. In many ways, the roads have become a catalyst for peace and a much-needed lifeline for local communities.

Cooperation between the Central African Republic’s armed forces, MINUSCA, and the local populations that have fully embraced the project has been key to ensuring that work can continue safely. This teamwork has not only allowed the project to progress despite the inherent security challenges, but has also built trust between local communities and law enforcement.

A major takeaway from this experience is the importance of active community participation in ensuring project success and sustainability. This includes empowering communities to take ownership of road maintenance and fostering economic opportunities through capacity-building initiatives such as training programs for local talent in road construction machinery operation. This particular project generated 64,000 days of work, 21% of which went to women. It also included crucial awareness-raising workshops on gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS for some 13,000 people, recognizing the potential risks associated with large influxes of construction workers and people seeking economic opportunities. These combined efforts not only bolster project effectiveness but also strengthen social cohesion and acceptance, particularly vital in fragile and insecure contexts.

Our experience in the Central African Republic has highlighted a number of valuable lessons for the successful implementation of infrastructure projects in fragile, conflict-affected, and vulnerable (FCV) contexts. In addition to strengthened security on the ground, close collaboration with beneficiaries is essential to ensure the project is well received and reflects the priorities of the community. Right from the design stage, projects should also include clearly defined maintenance mechanisms, which is the only way to guarantee that transport investments can bring lasting and sustainable benefits.

Moving forward, the EICRP’s success story lays a solid foundation for further initiatives that can contribute even more significantly to the peace and the socio-economic development of local communities. Building on the improved road connectivity, there is a substantial opportunity to rehabilitate and develop essential social and economic infrastructure. This could include revitalizing local markets, upgrading schools and health centers, and providing access to clean water and sanitation facilities.

These interventions would further amplify the positive impact of the roads, empowering communities that have long been isolated to participate in and benefit fully from the country's development. By adopting a holistic approach that addresses both physical infrastructure and social needs, we can ensure that the transformative effects of transport projects will significantly improve residents’ quality of life and contribute to the overall stability and prosperity of the Central African Republic.