📋 Tender Overview
Due to insecurity and an extremely degraded road network, the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) is indispensable to ensure reliable humanitarian access to populations in need in the Central African Republic (CAR). Switzerland’s contribution to UNHAS for 2025-2026 intervenes in a context of significant reduction in donor funding. The UN Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2025 for the Central Africa Republic estimates that 4 out of 10 people still need humanitarian assistance.
Country/region Topic Period Budget
Central African Republic
Emergency Relief and Protection
Humanitarian efficiency
01.09.2025 - 31.12.2026
CHF 665’750
The project in brief
Background The Central African Republic (CAR) faces many challenges, including its geographical isolation, the lack of infrastructure, recurrent crises, and internal and neighboring states' fragility. The conflict in Sudan worsens the situation in the North-East of the country as these areas were supplied with food and other essential goods largely from Sudan. Combined with the extreme remoteness of certain areas, dilapidated roads and the absence of any commercial air service providers, the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) is the only reliable and accessible transport means to transport essential personnel and life-saving supplies—including healthcare, nutrition, food, and shelter items for host and internally displaced populations and to the refugees.
Objectives Humanitarian and development partners in the Central African Republic can reach populations in vulnerable situations and respond to emergencies throughout the year.
Target groups 127 user organizations: 18 UN agencies, 100 NGOs (international and national), 5 donors/diplomatic (of which SDC), 4 others 12,000 passengers / year
Medium-term outcomes Crisis-affected populations benefit from timely and efficient air transport services for humanitarian and key partners to reach them and provide life-saving assistance.
Results Expected results: - Humanitarian workers reach safely remote locations that are cut off by insecurity and poor road conditions - Lifesaving and keep-cool light cargo can be timely delivered throughout the country. - UN and INGO staff benefits from a reliable air service for relocation in case of crisis or medical evacuations.
Results from previous phases: Main air service in the country, UNHAS provides safe, timely, efficient, and cost-effective air transport service to 127 organizations, including UN Agencies, NGOs, diplomatic corps, and donor representatives. Under the country’s current conditions, air transport remains the safer and most efficient means of travel for both the humanitarian community and development actors. The Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2025 reaffirms the prerequisite to maintain UNHAS to ensure the mobility of organizations to 28 regular and nine ad hoc locations, including hard-toreach areas.
