General information

About the mission

Launch date: December 2002
Local staff : 57
Expatriates : 5

Key facts

Population: 21 million inhabitants
Human Development Index : Ranking 166 out of 177

Humanitarian context

In September 2002, the Ivory Coast was divided by an attempted coup d’état: the North of the country is now controlled by the new rebel movement, the New Forces, while the South is under government control. This situation, often called 'neither war nor peace', is also marked by the presence of over 10,000 soldiers: about 6,000 from the UN and 4,000 French soldiers from the 'Licorne' force.

The situation continues despite numerous agreements that were made between those involved in the crisis.  At the end of 2005, and again at the end of 2006, the international community extended the five-year mandate of President Laurent Gbagbo by a year, because of the impossibility of holding presidential elections.  President Gbagbo called for 'direct dialogue' with the rebels in December 2006 instead of working with the Prime Minister nominated by the international community.  This dialogue ended in March 2007 with the Ouagadougou Agreements, which called for an end to the crisis, the departure of foreign troops in due course, less UN involvement in the peace process and planned a new government led by Guillaume Soro. 

The stakes are still high:

The organisation of free and transparent elections, implementation of the disarmament process, reunification of the country and the settling of numerous local, social and land disputes.

Humanitarian needs, limited to some regions of the country, have been more or less contained up until now.  The Northern area, because of the division of the country, has particularly suffered in terms of humanitarian needs, as well as from the deterioration of public services. The situation in terms of security is equally worrying in the West of the country, where groups of people still regularly fall victim to racketeering. Finally, Action Against Hunger has carried out a needs assessment in urban areas, revealing a very precarious situation for certain communities in Abidjan and San Pedro.

This region of West Africa remains fragile and the potential instability of its neighbouring countries (Guinea, for example) could affect the humanitarian situation on both sides of the borders.

Action Against Hunger in Ivory Coast

Action Against Hunger intervened in Ivory Coast in the 1990s to help Liberian refugees fleeing the civil war and taking refuge in the country. The programme was ended at the end of the 90s.  Action Against Hunger returned to Ivory Coast after the crisis broke out on 19th September 2002 and led to violent fighting, particularly in the West.  The politico-military crisis, apart from at the start, has hardly given rise to the need for emergency humanitarian aid.  After concentrating its efforts on the western area at the height of the crisis from 2003 to 2006, Action Against Hunger is now working on more structural issues.

Korogho area (North)

Water and Sanitation

• Construction of water points (drilled-wells, water towers, fountains)
• Creation of village water committees
• Training of agents to promote health and hygiene
• Hygiene promotion sessions

Food security

• Support for market gardening
• Income-generating activities set up

Urban areas of Abidjan and San Pedro (South)

Water and Sanitation

• Preparation of support programmes in the poorest areas

Funding

Private donations

EuropeAid