The Republic of the Congo is a central African country covering 342,000 km2, situated between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Cameroon, the Republic of Gabon and the Republic of Angola. Its population is estimated to be 4,085,422 inhabitants of which 51.7% are women and 48.3% are men. Children under 5 years of age make up 14% of the national population. 

56% of the Congolese population is distributed between Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. The population is fairly young, with 62.8% under the age of 30. The yearly demographic growth rate is 3% and at the current rate, the Congolese population could double by 2035 or 2040 to 7 or even 8 million people.

Congo's economic indicators place it in the category of a lower middle-income country. The Congolese economy depends mainly on oil exploitation which accounts for more than 80% of the national budget and public expenditure. From 2008-2011, the Congo saw an average yearly growth of almost 7%, driven by the oil sector (8.1%) as well as the non-oil sector, in spite of the world economic crisis. In 2010, the Congo recorded a growth rate of 8.7%; but with a weak and poorly diversified productive base. Also in 2010, the Congo reached the completion point of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, allowing it to substantially reduce its foreign debt. 

Over the past decade, the government initiated an ambitious program of structuring investments in order to diversify its economy, accelerate growth, create jobs, reduce poverty and reach the Millenium Development Goals (OMD). To address these challenges, the government launched a vast forward-looking initiative (Congo Vision 2025 is being finalized) and strategic planning making possible a national development plan 2012-2016. 

In socio-economic terms, unemployment affects 7% of the working population of which 10% are in cities versus 1.7% in rural areas. Between 2005 to 2011, the number of people living below the poverty line declined from 50.7% to 46.5% with a persistent increase in poverty in rural areas compared to urban. The main causes for poverty remain: (i) lack of work (91.5%); (ii) poor public management (63%); (iii) insufficient income (59%) and (iv) corruption (51.6%).

In terms of health, by comparing the data from DHS from 2005 and that of MICS 2014-2015, infant mortality saw a significant decline in the Congo from 2005 to 2015, but unfortunately falling short of the targets of both the Road Map 2008-2015 and the OMDs. The neonatal mortality rate was reduced by 12 points, from 33 deaths per 1000 live births; infant mortality fell from 75 to 35 deaths per 1000 live births (28 deaths per 1000 live births OMD target).

Malnutrition often accompanied by anaemia remains a concern for children under 5 years old, of which 21.3% suffered from chronic malnutrition in 2014, 8.2% from acute malnutrition, 12.3% from being underweight and 5.9% from obesity. Exclusive breast feeding which decreases the risk of gastrointestinal and upper respiratory tract infections was just 32.7% in 2014, falling far short of the 80% goal set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The lack of micronutrients essential for development that should be mentioned for Congolese children are iron and vitamin A, which is a serious problem for public health.

The Republic of the Congo joined the movement Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN), in October 2013, with, according to the DHS II, a national prevalence of chronic malnutrition of 24.4%  . However, this rate hides certain departmental disparities. The departments with a high prevalence such as: Lékoumou (39%), Plateaux (36%), Sangha (35%), Kouilou (32%), Likouala (29%), Cuvette- West (29%), Pool (28%) and Niari (27%).

Also, rates like: Stunted growth of children under 5 years old: 21.2%, low birth weight 13%, exclusive breast feeding 32.7%, emaciation of children under 5 years old 8.2%, overweight children under 5 years old 5.9%, anaemia in women of childbearing age (15-49 years old) 50.7%, overweight adults: 33.6%, obese adults 11%, adults with diabetes: 9.4%.

These less than glowing statistics of the country's nutritional situation have motivated the government of the Republic, which established an ad hoc national committee on April 11, 2017 to fight against malnutrition which was set up at the central level, by a memo, pending the revision of the decree instituting a National Council to Fight against Malnutrition (CNLM). The new Committee consolidates the nutrition focal points identified within the Presidency of the Republic, the Prime Minister's Office, the Senate and the National Assembly, the sectoral ministries and the agencies of the United Nations. It is coordinated by the focal point SUN, the Minister Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic. 

The existing multi-actor platform, under the food and nutrition security component of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, could be integrated into the Committee. Due to the lack of a platform for the participation of the private sector, civil society and donors, all of these entities involved in the fight against malnutrition are not taken into account in the establishment of the CNLM. Thus, in order to fill this void and also to contribute effectively alongside the public authorities to the fight against malnutrition in the Republic of the Congo, the Consultative Council of Development NGOs (CCOD) has created within it a focus group "Nutrition and Food Security" with the ambition: to contribute to improving the food and nutritional situation of people in the Republic of Congo. It intends in this way to organise civil society organisations joining the fight against malnutrition, whether members of the CCOD or not, into one focus group within the CCOD. This will allow the CCOD to take an active role with national organisations in the fight against malnutrition, but also and especially, to work to mobilise resources to carry out activities in the fight against malnutrition and food insecurity. Thanks to the organization, the CCOD will strengthen the technical and managerial abilities of the CSO members of the focus group, for efficient actions on the ground. 

With the focus group established, an updated roadmap for the year 2020 has been adopted. This roadmap emphasises the formation of partnerships and capacity building.