WFP's intervention in Cameroon consists of a package of services which, in addition to meeting the urgent needs of vulnerable people confronted with food insecurity and malnutrition, provides them with the means to cope by themselves with crises with which they are faced. Serahadja, a small community in the Mayo Sava division in the Far North region, located about 34 kilometers from the town of Maroua, is an example of WFP’s integrated programme creating synergy and solidarity within communities. They are mobilized to work together on assets creation and receive from WFP capacity building sessions and empowerment to make their life easier and peaceful. Impact of the FFA program on children schooling in Serahadja Serahadja is one of the WFP selected localities because of its vulnerability to food insecurity. This situation is mainly caused by the Boko Haram crisis and the effects of climate change. To make vulnerable people more resilient in Serahadja, WFP has been supporting the creation of assets through its resilience and livelihoods programmes. These interventions strengthened about 300 vulnerable households with resources, knowledge, and skills to build their livelihoods. The grave aftershock of violent extremist activities in communities of Mayo-Sava including Serahadja resulting in many children had deserted schools due to poverty. Thanks to WFP assistance Food for Assets through its cooperating partners, a cooperative was created. This cooperative inspired the grouping of some villagers to form an association of 30 members who decided to engage in the production of cereals on a common farm. “There was a period in our community when most of our children were out of school but with sales from the produce from our farm, each member of our association was able to pay tuition fees for our children…the cooperative was of help to us because we   learnt improved techniques such as seed rating, row spacing sowing, seed density respect and replacement, ploughing before seeding… which impacted positively on our harvests this farming year 2022 ” testified Mrs. Dogdje, an association member and participant in Food for Asset programme. The food from the association’s farm was consumed by households of members as well as  sales made to maintain the children of each member in school and ensure their literacy. Organic fertilizer improves agricultural productivity in Serahadja: Composting Techniques Transferred The village of Serahadja, like several other villages in the Far North region of Cameroon, face the problem of low agricultural productivity due in part to inadequate management of soil fertility. Since 2020 WFP and its cooperating partners are building participant’s capacity on improved production techniques including production and utilization of organic fertilizer. Many participants were inspired by trainings and new agricultural technique used during WFP- Food for Asset interventions. And some of them stood out by the application of knowledge acquired from trainings to the personal farms. Kellou Yanouse showcased the changes she had on her onion farm after applying cow dung instead of chemical fertilizers. She said, “Before I could barely have 9 – 10 bags of 140kg each of onions on 230m2. I realized in 2020  that the application of chemical soil fertilizers accelerated soil degradation, reason for  my farm yields  decreasing. But now I’ve gone up to 16 bags on the same space when I applied cow dung and using farming techniques acquired from the project...” This year, after the training and demonstration on composting techniques, Kellou Yanousse and other beneficiaries of WFP programme decided to apply composting techniques learnt during a training on the farm after learning the importance of compost. “We will produce compost in our house and farm. We are convinced that with the utilization of compost our agricultural production will increase. We will teach other women in our community because if we use organic soil fertilizers it will help us fight against environmental hazards our community is faced with and our soils will be enriched yet further” she said. Cash Based Transfer, a modality that requires a national identification document from beneficiaries To meet the Sustainable Development Goals and achieve “Zero hunger” challenge in 2030, WFP in Cameroon stays committed in leaving no one behind, working closely with local communities and offering  a package of services that empower them and make them resilient. In Serahadja, 1,500 individuals, comprising 70% women were assisted through Cash Based Transfer; a modality that requires the provision of national identity document by the beneficiary. This is very often a great challenge for the beneficiaries of Serahadja.         Hadidja, a host population with 3 children, is one of the beneficiaries in Serahadja who is trapped in a web of nonidentification. She complained “we do not know what else to do to obtain ID cards. It is extremely complicated for us given the high cost demanded especially when one does not possess a birth certificate…” The cash transferred by WFP enabled beneficiaries to meet their immediate food needs and invest in their livelihoods. “The population of Serahadja is relieved of the stress of having to deal with  law enforcement  because of identification struggles. Before now, beneficiaries had serious problems with alternates especially during cash withdrawals but that has been handled now and we are grateful to the NGO EFA Cameroon and WFP for facilitating the process for us…” testified Hassan  the traditional leader of Serahadja. Upon arrival of WFP cooperating partner EFA Cameroon, about 70% of participants had been working with alternates for cash transfers because the ID cards were either invalid or nonexistent. Field agents engaged in repeated verifications and sensitizations for one to two months. So, WFP Maroua Field office facilitated the obtention of valid ID cards by advocating at the level of the Mora Council; and now 95% of participants who are representative of the community presently own valid ID cards.

"Thanks to the financial support, numerous capacity buildings, and connections received, we were able to transform our business and expand to a larger scale. Unlike before, when we had fewer clients, today we have multiplied our clients, including companies that buy from us to supply. All of this is thanks to the support of UNDP within the Youth Connect Initiative." Ms. Nguekeu Deesse, 25-year-old, Director of PEMESSO, testified during the trade fair exhibition commemorating YouthConnekt Cameroon's third anniversary. PEMESSO produces 3D laser printing machines, which are used to produce a variety of woodworks, metalworks, and advertising prints, among other types of materials. PEMESSO is among the over 10,000 youth-owned initiatives that have benefited from the YouthConnekt initiative in Cameroon. December 7th to 17th, 2022 marked the celebration of the 3rd anniversary of YouthConnekt Cameroon, an initiative that stems from YouthConnect Africa, a UNDP Africa regional initiative, whose vision is to connect African youth for socio-economic transformation and empowerment by enhancing their knowledge, experiences, and skills while investing in their ideas, innovations, and initiatives. Activities marking the initiative’s 3rd anniversary, accompanied by the second edition of SIPROME, brought together over 2500 youths including young innovative entrepreneurs, top government officials, representatives of partner UN agencies, investors, and entrepreneurs. The celebration was officially launched in an engaging ceremony by the Prime Minister’s Rep. His Ex. Gregoire Owona, MINTSS, with the active participation of MINJEC, Mounouna Foutsou, UNDP West and Central Africa’s Regional Manager, Njoya Tikum, UNDP Cameroon’s Acting Resident Rep. Alassane Ba, and the President of the Cameroon Youth Council, Fadimatou Iyawa, among other officials. The key message from the officiators centered around creating an enabling environment for youth socio-economic empowerment and entrepreneurship, to enable young Cameroonian women and men to access opportunities and excel in their endeavors. While ensuring UNDP’s continued engagement to foster the initiative, Mr. Alassane thanked the government of Cameroon for embedding the initiative and leveraging it for the benefit of the Cameroonian youth. He also appreciated the engagement of the private sector and the UN sister agencies, UNFPA, UN Women, and UNESCO, for readily embracing and supporting the initiative. In the same vein, UNDP WACA’s Regional Manager, Mr. Njoya, and MINJEC, His Ex. Mounouna Foutsou, took the stage of the event in an interactive session to motivate and empower the youths to challenge their barriers, and aim for sustainable socio-economic growth. Another key aspect of the celebration was the animation of a trade fair, which brought together over 480 entrepreneurs, beneficiaries of YouthConnekt, from all ten regions of Cameroon, to exhibit and sell their products and services while connecting with investors and other entrepreneurs. The young innovative entrepreneurs came from diverse sectors of activities: agriculture and agro-industry, automation technology (mechanization, robotics), green sector and renewable energy, digital economy (digital communication, applications), processing industry (agro-food, agro-industry), and arts and crafts (dance, music, cinema, and plastic arts). For the past three years, thanks to significant investments by partners, YouthConnekt Cameroon has recorded remarkable results within its five pillars: youth employment and entrepreneurship; civic education, citizen participation, and social cohesion; inter- and intra-generational youth interconnection; gender gap; sexual education and reproductive health. Within these pillars, the initiative created over 9000 jobs, 40% of which were women; strengthened the technical and logistical capacities of over 3000 entrepreneurs; inserted over 500 youths into academic and professional internships; empowered over 200 peacemakers; established over 2,000 birth certificates; supported the training and equipment of over 3,500 agricultural groups and small trades, 53% of whom were women; animated over 20 community dialogues involving over 520 young people, 33% of whom were women, which resulted to an improvement in the cohabitation between young people and the defense and security forces; developed the nano finance platform and the YouthConnekt social network; organized the YouthConnekt Cameroon Convention and hangouts; strengthened actions to reduce inequalities in the gender gap; empowered 100,000 young people and adolescents with comprehensive sexuality education, who are now enjoying their sexual rights and are able to implement their life plans. All these have promoted the connection of more than three million young people to mentors, role models, and leaders. At the end of the 10-day celebrations, MINJEC and UNDP on behalf of the steering committee awarded the 2022 best young entrepreneurs and outstanding youth leaders and development actors for their role in youth development. The YouthConnekt steering committee also reviewed its work plan, captured learnings, and projected its perspectives for 2023, geared towards mobilizing more private sector and development actors for continued youth empowerment and socio-economic development. The YoutConnect Cameroon Initiative is supported by MINJEC, UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women, UNESCO, Fondation Puene, GICAM, among others.

Tende Stella values her small eatery by the corner of the main market in Buea Town, South West region at over 370,000FCFA (over Euro 500). She earns a weekly profit of about 15,000FCFA (Euro 22.8) which she says is just enough to meet the food and nutrition needs of her family of four children. She fled fighting in the restive North West region of Cameroon to settle in Buea which is relatively calm but also because it is the only other place in Cameroon where she has family. When she moved to Buea in 2018, the socio-economic crisis hitting the two regions was in full swing and food insecurity was peaking. Life in the university town was hard and expensive. For almost two years she depended on the support of friends and family until she got enrolled into WFP’s cash assistance program November 2021, supported by partners like the European Union. For the two months ending the year 2021, Stella received 50,000FCFA ($40 per month). She started her street food businesses selling local breakfast and lunch delicacies under a make-shift tent close to the main market in Buea town. Everything seemed to be falling in place. She was making just enough money to feed her children and send them to school. However, in the second quarter of 2022, the effects of the Russia-Ukraine crisis took a toll and prices of basic food commodities including those Stella uses for her business skyrocketed. “I was sure that in another year, I wouldn’t need WFP support, but the way things are going now, it’s hard to predict,” she said. Stella still engages in her petty trade. She is looking to diversify her options with the monthly stipend she receives from WFP.  

Marguerite is 19 years old and the third child in a family of seven. She lost her father when she was eleven, and lives with her mother, four sisters, and two brothers in a two-bedroom mud house in one of the most affected communities in the region. Her mother depended on farming for their welfare, but this source of livelihood was truncated in 2014 by the outbreak of the crisis. Life became unbearable for Marguerite and her family; her hopes were crushed. "I was forced to drop out of school, the one thing that gave me hope. I stayed at home, taking care of my siblings, and could barely have a square meal. My optimism for a bright future was lost." Marguerite explains emotionally. "I could no longer go to the farm for fear of being killed. I can’t explain how we survived that period." Marguerite’s mother adds The UNDP Stabilization Project revitalized the Government Vocational Training Center (SAR-SM), among other public and social structures in her community, by providing training resources to promote livelihood and assistance to government and local security structures to foster stabilization and security. Marguerite was enrolled at the center, to learn how to tailor. "The tailoring and carpentry equipment and security stabilization efforts by UNDP in our community greatly revived the center. The center doubled its enrollment and scaled up the quality of training," confirms Mr. Blata, Director of the Center. Marguerite, among other girls, was trained and graduated as a professional tailor. The course covered tailoring (sowing and embroidery), life skills (sexual education, civic/moral education, and social cohesion), as well as entrepreneurship, and socio-professional insertion. The project also ensured the economic insertion of her and other learners by providing them with start-up kits, including sewing machines and accessories, fabrics, tables, and chairs. "With the training and equipment, I received, I now make enough profit to take care of my needs and assist my family. I am now sure of becoming a big designer, and training other vulnerable girls." Marguerite confirms, excitingly. "We have witnessed a lot of change in our family; today we are sure of food and our needs. The money she makes permits me to do 'Njangi' which allows me to raise money for farming and her siblings' school fees.” Marguerite’s mother adds smilingly. Over 3146 persons’ (1,586 girls and 1,560 boys) lives have been directly impacted by livelihood and income-generating activities since 2020. "So far, we have supported the vocational training of youths and groups in livestock farming, tailoring, carpentry, catering, and more, and provided them with working materials and machines, for their effective socioeconomic integration," confirms Apollinaire Adamou, the project’s livelihood officer. Like Marguerite, over 1.2 million people in Cameroon's Far-North region are currently in need of security, livelihood, and other basic needs because of the armed insurgency in the Lake Chad region (OCHA Report No. 25, Sept. 2022). As part of the UNDP Regional Stabilization Facility covering the Lake Chad region, the Cameroon Stabilization Window is implementing a comprehensive multi-sectoral approach to stabilize the communities. "We are working with the government and local authorities in the Far-North region to improve community safety and security, restore essential infrastructure and basic services, and provide livelihood opportunities for affected communities, all while promoting cross-border accessibility. Despite the significant results we have achieved, there is still much to be covered, and thanks to our partners and donors, we are fully engaged and working unceasingly." Christophe Charbon, Head of Stabilization, UNDP Cameroon Stabilization Window.