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29 December 2022
Ms. Florence Raes, UN Women Regional Director a.i. for West and Central Africa completes official visit to Cameroon
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28 December 2022
WFP provides a package of services to vulnerable communities to make them resilient and live in peace in the Far North region
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28 December 2022
An impactful three years of YouthConnekt in Cameroon
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The Sustainable Development Goals in Cameroon
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Cameroon:
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13 April 2022
An opportunity to learn again: the story of the children of Ngwadikang, Bali — North West region
“UNICEF has given us the opportunity to learn again (after 4 years) through Radio Learning Programme.” This is what emerges from Maria, Moustapha, Ramatou and Amidou’s testimony amongst other children of Ngwadikang, a village in Bali subdivision where the Anglophone conflict has deprived them of their right to education since 2017 until last July when they started receiving learning again through radio programmes.
Naturally the indigenous Mbororo children and the people of the North West region in general have previously suffered from various forms of involuntary social exclusion including multiple inequalities, deprivations, and vulnerabilities. Because their community (Ngwadikang village) is located about 4 km from Bali Central and their children were obliged to trek long distances to have access to school. This had three effects on them. (i) Children younger than 7 years old could not afford this long distance journey which made them dropout of school (ii) the girl child who is highly protected by their culture could not as well be allowed to go such long distances through Christian communities and, (iii) quite often Mbororo children suffered beatings from their classmates of the other cultures. While other children in Bali Central had the opportunity to attend non-formal classes when schools closed, the Mbororo children had none. Worse is the fact that the crisis in the North West was exacerbated by previous farmer-grazer grievances like in the case of Njikwa, Bum, Fungom, Wum, Ngarbu which also increased insecurity in the community. This scared the Mbororo people of Bali amongst other communities so much that their children were restricted from any movements out of their community. This made them lose hope especially as there are no signs of the crisis coming to an end yet.
As a result of this, UNICEF and its Partners are providing radio learning programmes to out of school conflict affected children, aged 3–17 years. These programmes are part of the project: Supporting conflict affected children to continue accessing learning opportunities and psychosocial support services in a protective environment from conflicts and COVID-19 in both formal and non-formal settings. Amidst this deadlock and hopelessness to their education, UNICEF, through Green Partners Association, in July 2021 came in to register children for Radio Education Programmes in few communities in Bali including the Mbororo Community. “This glorious day came when Auntie Alice visited us to ask if we were ready to learn using the radio.” Said Amidou. It was amazing as every Mbororo woman and man joined their children with great excitement to register their children. Then came the unbelievable day when Alice Gwanmesia, Focal Person of GPA in Bali arrived with radios and demonstrated how to use them. Furthermore, other children had the opportunity to receive the radios, a dream that finally come true as the children had radios to learn from. Challenging and frustrating was the fact that they were to listen and write as Alice gave them exercise books with instructions on how to use them. The worrying question from both parents and children was how to manipulate the radios from lesson to lesson and switching from Literacy to Numeracy. Amazingly, Alice had prepared a learning schedule which she presented and thought them throughout the way to counteract all the challenges and difficulties associated with the programme.
Today, Maria, Ramatou, Amidou and Moustapha can learn Literacy and Numeracy through Radio Learning Programmes with little assistance. They have been able to eliminate the several challenges they faced when they had to trek long distances to access education. Maria, Ramatou, Amidou and Moustapha’s parents amongst other children are very thankful to UNICEF and its Partners. Despite their happiness, a lot still has to be done to ensure that distant learning can be accessible to many other children who are in conflict affected areas in Cameroon. Classroom learning, be it formal or non-formal is the greatest desire of the community. However, the crisis in Bali has been so intense since June 2021 till date. Nevertheless, negotiations are on-going with community stakeholders to start-up a non-formal learning center before end of 2021.
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15 October 2020
L’UNESCO accompagne l’Etat du Cameroun dans la préparation des rapports périodiques de ses sites du patrimoine mondial
Le Cameroun compte en effet deux sites naturels inscrits sur la Liste du patrimoine mondial : la réserve de Faune du Dja et le parc national de Lobeké qui constitue le segment camerounais du Tri-national de la Sangha (TNS).
L’atelier a été organisé dans le cadre du troisième cycle de soumission des rapports périodiques 2018-2024 en Afrique. Le présent cycle du rapport est structuré autour de six thèmes : l’état de conservation, la gestion, la gouvernance, les synergies avec d’autres conventions culturelles ou relatives à la biodiversité et des instruments normatifs, le développement durable et le renforcement des compétences.
L’atelier a permis à l’état-partie de produire un rapport contenant des informations récoltées de façon inclusive auprès des représentants des Ministères de l’économie, de la planification et de l’aménagement du territoire (MINEPAT), de l’Eau et de l’Energie (MINEE), du tourisme et des loisirs (MINTOUL), de l’Agriculture et du Développement Rural (MINADER), des Mines, de l'Industrie et du Développement Technologique (MINMIDT), des conservateurs du TNS et du Dja, des partenaires techniques (UNESCO, FTNS, AWF, ZSL, WWF), les ONG et Associations locales (APIFED et ASBAK).
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18 April 2022
Valoriser le potentiel des crevettes au Cameroun
Selon une évaluation présentée aujourd'hui à plus de 60 parties prenantes et experts, le secteur de la crevette au Cameroun présente un fort potentiel de croissance économique et d'avantages sociaux sans nuire pour autant à l'environnement. Les participants ont convenu qu'une refonte du secteur est nécessaire pour valoriser son potentiel et ont examiné les moyens de stimuler la croissance de manière durable.
« Les avantages de la pêche à la crevette pour de larges secteurs de notre société sont incontestables », a déclaré le Dr Taiga, Ministre de l'Élevage, des Pêches et des Industries animales, à l'occasion d'une réunion tenue aujourd'hui à Douala pour présenter les résultats d'une évaluation du secteur. « Toutefois, ce secteur doit être considérablement modernisé afin de mieux alimenter notre population, de soutenir notre économie, de créer des emplois et de protéger les générations futures en maîtrisant l'empreinte écologique », a-t-il ajouté.
Selon l'évaluation réalisée par FISH4ACP et l'Institut des Sciences Halieutiques, le commerce de la crevette représente environ 85 millions USD par an. Environ 80 pour cent des crevettes sont capturés par des acteurs industriels, tandis que les pêcheurs artisanaux capturent les 20 pour cent restants. Le secteur emploie quelque 2 000 personnes, dont un tiers de femmes, et fournit un aliment sain et abordable à de larges pans de la population camerounaise.
Le Cameroun est l'un des douze pays bénéficiaires de FISH4ACP, une initiative de l'Organisation des États d'Afrique, des Caraïbes et du Pacifique (OEACP) mise en œuvre par la FAO pour accroître la productivité et la durabilité des chaînes de valeur de la pêche et de l'aquaculture en Afrique, dans les Caraïbes et dans le Pacifique.
L'initiative a lancé ses activités au Cameroun l'année dernière en procédant à une analyse approfondie de la chaîne de valeur de la crevette, dont les résultats ont été présentés aujourd'hui à plus de 60 parties prenantes et experts de la chaîne de valeur de la crevette.
« Nous saluons ce dialogue sectoriel sur le renforcement de la durabilité économique, sociale et environnementale de la chaîne de valeur de la crevette », a déclaré Philippe Gatineau, représentant l'Union européenne (UE), qui finance FISH4ACP avec le Ministère fédéral allemand de la coopération économique et du développement (BMZ). Il a ajouté : « L'approche participative de FISH4ACP est la bonne voie pour améliorer durablement la compétitivité du secteur. »
La réunion de Douala se déroulera sur trois jours, au cours desquels les parties prenantes et les experts se pencheront sur les résultats de l'évaluation et commenceront à discuter des moyens de renforcer le secteur – en établissant le programme des activités de FISH4ACP pour les années à venir.
« L'approche holistique proposée par FISH4ACP permet de relever le défi multidimensionnel du développement durable de la pêche », a déclaré Athman Mravili, Représentant de la FAO au Cameroun, ajoutant : « Il faut trouver des solutions innovantes pour valoriser le potentiel du secteur de la crevette au Cameroun. »
Dans une perspective d'avenir, Athman Mravili a déclaré que FISH4ACP pourrait aider les pêcheurs industriels et artisanaux à développer leurs activités, tout en travaillant avec le gouvernement pour améliorer le cadre réglementaire sanitaire. Il a ajouté que la sécurité en mer et la démarcation des zones de pêche par rapport aux zones d'extraction pétrolière étaient aussi des sujets importants. FISH4ACP pourrait également appuyer les initiatives visant à améliorer la gestion des stocks et à réduire les prises accessoires afin d'accroître la durabilité environnementale du secteur de la crevette au Cameroun.
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22 September 2022
Lutter contre l’insécurité alimentaire en favorisant la production de produits maraichers frais, variés et respectant les normes d’hygiène et de qualité nutritionnelle
La recrudescence des conflits armés dans les régions du Nord-ouest et Sud-ouest du Cameroun a entrainé des déplacements de centaines de milliers de personnes vers des villes environnantes. Ces mouvements ont eu une conséquence directe sur la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle des personnes déplacées internes (PDI) ainsi que sur les communautés d’accueil. L’insécurité a également entravé les mouvements de la population et a limité l’accès aux marchés, ce qui a rapidement entrainé l’épuisement des stocks alimentaires et a accru la vulnérabilité des populations et leur exposition à l’insécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle. La pandémie de COVID 19 a constitué un facteur aggravant, notamment en termes de déstabilisation des systèmes de production.
Dans un tel contexte, la promotion de systèmes agricoles et alimentaires plus adaptés au contexte est une nécessité. C’est ainsi que l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture (FAO) conduit un projet d’appui à la production maraichère dans les zones péri-urbaines de Douala et Buea. Le projet vise la mise en place d’un système agricole plus adapté et plus efficace que le système qui préexistait avant la crise, et ainsi contribuer à l’amélioration de la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle des ménages rendus vulnérables.
Ainsi le projet permet non seulement aux bénéficiaires d’avoir une alimentation saine et variée mais aussi d’acheminer les récoltes sur le marché environnant. Il bénéficie à vingt-quatre groupements de producteurs regroupant trois cent ménages agricoles vulnérables d’une taille moyenne de six individus par ménage. Ces bénéficiaires ont ainsi vu leurs capacités renforcées grâce à l’utilisation de l’approche champs écoles paysans[1]sur différents aspects ; notamment la maîtrise des itinéraires de bonnes pratiques agricoles en production maraichère et l’utilisation raisonnée des pesticides. Un accent particulier a été mis sur la sécurité sanitaire des aliments ainsi que la gestion des pertes post-récoltes à travers leurs transformations et leurs conditionnements. Grâce à cette formation, les ménages des villes de Buea et Douala peuvent trouver sur les marchés urbains une offre suffisante de produits maraichers frais, variés et respectant les normes minimales d’hygiène et de qualité nutritionnelle. La formation a également outillé les bénéficiaires à la constitution d’un panier de la ménagère équilibré, varié et visant la satisfaction des besoins nutritionnels de base.
John Kemancha et son épouse font partis de ceux ayant fui leur village Lebialem dans la région du Sud-Ouest pour se réfugier à Ndobo, localité de Bonabéri. « Nous étions obligés de partir pour sauver nos vies. Aujourd’hui j’héberge pratiquement tous les membres de ma famille et de ma belle-famille. Nous sommes au total dix-sept personnes à ma charge » explique John. Grace à l’appui accordé par la FAO, John peut désormais compter sur le potager qu’il cultive à quelques pas de son domicile pour se nourrir. On y retrouve des tomates, des gombos, du maïs, du manioc, des épinards de Ceylan ou « waterleaves », etc… Une partie des récoltes est consommée par John et sa famille, tandis que l’autre partie est envoyée vers le petit marché local pour être vendue. Les bénéfices de la vente lui permettent entre autres de s’acquitter du loyer de sa maison et des frais de scolarité de ses enfants.
Claude quant à lui fait partie des membres de la communauté d’accueil ayant abrité une dizaine de déplacés internes venant de la région du Sud-Ouest. Technicien agricole de formation, il vit de l’agriculture depuis plusieurs années. Marié et père de quatre enfants, la culture du piment est sa seule source de revenus pour subvenir aux besoins de sa famille. Il affirme que depuis la survenue de la crise, la demande en produits maraichers a pratiquement triplé. L’appui en intrants et la formation en bonnes pratiques agricoles à travers l'approche champs écoles paysan de la FAO lui permettent de produire plus et de mieux gérer son exploitation. « Aujourd’hui je produis quatre fois plus de piment qu’il y a 4 ans. J’achemine ma marchandise au marché Sandaga, un grand marché de vivres frais dans la ville de Douala. Toutes les formations que j’ai reçues de la FAO au moyen des champs écoles paysans me permettent aujourd’hui de former d’autres personnes qui sont majoritairement des personnes déplacées internes venant des zones en crises » indique Claude.
« Avec l’arrivée des personnes déplacées internes chez moi, le nombre de personnes à nourrir a considérablement augmenté. Les bénéfices issus des ventes de piment me permettent non seulement de m’occuper de ma famille, mais également d’acquérir des vivres afin de subvenir aux besoins alimentaires de base des personnes qui vivent sous mon toit » poursuit-il.
Le plan de réponse humanitaire de la FAO 2022[2] indique que près de 15% des ménages affectés par une mauvaise consommation alimentaire ont recours à des régimes à valeur nutritionnelle réduite, tombant sous le coup des mécanismes d'adaptation négatifs. Investir dans l'agriculture permet de plus en plus aux ménages vulnérables d’acquérir des moyens de se nourrir et de nourrir leurs communautés. En effet, l’agriculture maraichère est une agriculture à cycle court, à grande diversité d’espèces dotés d’une valeur marchande élevée. A terme, la FAO vise à travers ce projet la mise en place d’un système agricole plus adapté et plus efficace pour l’amélioration de la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle dans les zones péri-urbaines de Buea et Douala.
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29 December 2022
Ms. Florence Raes, UN Women Regional Director a.i. for West and Central Africa completes official visit to Cameroon
At the end of a week-long visit to Cameroon, Ms. Florence Raes, Regional Director a.i. of UN Women WCARO, commended the efforts of the Government of Cameroon in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment and noted the commitment at the highest level to gender equality, women's empowerment and the promotion of their rights. She reiterated UN Women's commitment and the need for synergy of actions for the economic, political and social empowerment of women to ensure equitable opportunities for girls and boys, women and men.
During her visit, Ms. Florence Raes, Regional Director a.i. of UN Women WCARO, met with:
- H.E. Mr. Joseph Dion NGUTE, Prime Minister of the Republic of Cameroon
- H.E. Mr. Georges Elanga OBAM, Minister of Decentralization and Local Development
- H.E. Mrs. Marie-Thérèse Abena ONDOA, Minister for the Promotion of Women and the Family
- H.E. Mr Felix MBAYU, Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations, in charge of Cooperation with the Commonwealth.
She also paid a courtesy visit to:
- H.E. Mrs. Pauline Irène NGUENE, Minister of Social Affairs
- H.E.Fai Yengo Francis, National Coordinator NDDRC
- Mr. Justin KOFFI, Resident Coordinator a.i. of the United Nations
- Mr. Erik ESSOUSSE, Director General of Elections Cameroon
- Mr. Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha DIBOUA, Governor of the Litoral Region
With the Prime Minister, Ms. Florence Raes discussed the possibility of strengthening Cameroon's efforts and sharing its good practices with other countries in the region; they also addressed the issue of women's economic empowerment, their access to land, financing, and credit.
With the Minister for the Promotion of Women and the Family of Cameroon, Ms. Florence Raes discussed the cooperation framework to end gender-based violence and promote women's empowerment at all levels.
Mrs. Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa, Minister for the Promotion of Women and the Family said: “The perspective of this meeting was to strengthen the partnership in the implementation of the Cooperation Framework in terms of better coordination, synergy and joint advocacy for women's empowerment and well-being”.
At the decentralization level, there are plans to expand existing collaboration on gender-responsive decentralization and budgeting to consider the voices of women in communities through gender planning.
While sharing with women leaders (parliamentarians, mayors, businesswomen, leaders of civil society organizations, political party representatives, and journalists) and influential women from the Circle of Friends of Cameroon about their challenges and achievements, Ms. Florence Raes, Regional Director a. i of UN Women West and Central Africa announced, "We agreed on the importance of working more on economic empowerment strategies for women and girls in communities affected by violent extremism and conflict, we will work with you to improve living conditions, facilitate access to land, financial and other services, combat the recruitment of the most vulnerable into extremist networks and improve the quality of life of women and girls across Cameroon."
The consultation with civil society focused on the approval of the revised Family Code with the demands of civil society: the political participation of women, the management and prevention of GBV.
The current socio-political crisis in the two English-speaking regions has increased the number of displaced people in neighboring regions, such as the coastal and western regions, who therefore have difficulty returning to school, with women and children being the most affected.
In this context, Ms. Florence Raes also met with displaced women and visited the Center for the Promotion of Women and the Family in the coastal region of Douala to attend the graduation ceremony of young girls who are beneficiaries of the "Second Chance" program, which aims to provide vocational training to nearly 12,000 women and girls who have dropped out of school since 2019 and who are generally undergoing a variety of short- and long-term trainings in ICTs, sewing, agriculture, animal husbandry, and petty trade.
The visit ended with exchanges with representatives of development partners based in Cameroon such as the EU, Japan, India, Egypt, Gabon, Nigeria, Belgium, and the USA.
Through this official visit, the Regional Director a.i. renewed UN Women's commitment to the Government of Cameroon, its partners and civil society to support efforts to ensure that boys and girls, women and men have equal access to resources, services, decision making, education and economic opportunities.
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28 December 2022
WFP provides a package of services to vulnerable communities to make them resilient and live in peace in the Far North region
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.
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28 December 2022
An impactful three years of YouthConnekt in Cameroon
"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.
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23 December 2022
WFP and ECHO support small businesses in conflict affected NW/SW regions amidst growing food prices
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.
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Story
28 November 2022
Reviving hope in the life of marguerite and crisis-affected peers, in the far north of Cameroon
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.
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Press Release
01 July 2021
The humanitarian community appeals to all stakeholders to join forces to address the humanitarian needs in Cameroon
The funding of the Humanitarian Response Plan will allow humanitarian organizations to provide humanitarian assistance to three million people in need of urgent aid in 2021.
Yaoundé, 7 April 2021 – Today, the Minister of Territorial Administration (MINAT), Mr. Paul Atanga Nji, and the Humanitarian Coordinator in Cameroon, Mr. Matthias Z. Naab, launched the 2021 Cameroon Humanitarian Response Plan. This plan aims to provide lifesaving assistance, reduce the vulnerability of people affected by crises and support communities to become more resilient to withstand future shocks.
Cameroon continues to be affected by three protection crises and concurrent, complex humanitarian situations. In 2021 there are 4.4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in the country because of insecurity, diminished coping capacities and lack of access to basic services.
The violence in the Far North, North-West and South-West regions, the insecurity in the Central African Republic and Nigeria – that have led to the arrival of thousands of refugees in the East, Adamawa, North and Far North regions – and the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and prevention measures on public and private revenues have substantially increased the population’s vulnerabilities.
“With over 320,000 internally displaced persons in the Far North region, as a result of the conflict, Cameroon is the second most affected country by the Lake Chad crisis after Nigeria. Providing humanitarian assistance, sustainable support for vulnerable women, children and men and identifying durable solutions for those displaced, remains a top priority for the humanitarian community. It will help people retain their dignity and build their resilience”, said Mr. Naab.
In 2020, the humanitarian response in Cameroon continued to be underfunded with only 50 per cent of the Humanitarian Response Plan funded. If the chronic underfunding of the humanitarian response in Cameroon is not addressed, several million people will continue to be left without vital humanitarian assistance and protection, further deepening their vulnerabilities.
For more information, please contact:
Carla Martinez, Head of Office, OCHA Cameroon, martinez14@un.org
Bibiane Mouangue, Public information officer, OCHA Cameroon, bibiane.mouangue@un.org Press releases from OCHA are available at www.unocha.org/rowca and www.reliefweb.int
Cameroon Humanitarian Response Plan 2021 and Humanitarian Needs Overview 2021 are available at www.reliefweb.int
Bibiane Mouangue, Public information officer, OCHA Cameroon, bibiane.mouangue@un.org Press releases from OCHA are available at www.unocha.org/rowca and www.reliefweb.int
Cameroon Humanitarian Response Plan 2021 and Humanitarian Needs Overview 2021 are available at www.reliefweb.int
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Press Release
01 July 2021
The Humanitarian Coordinator in Cameroon strongly condemns the attack on a United Nations convoy in the South-West region of Cameroon
The Humanitarian Coordinator in Cameroon, Mr. Matthias Z. Naab, strongly condemns the attack perpetrated by a non-state armed group on 26 March against a United Nations convoy in Ikata village, in the South-West region of Cameroon.
The UN convoy, composed of two vehicles with seven staff members, was conducting a monitoring mission to Munyenge village in the South-West region. Shortly after entering Ikata village, a group of armed men opened fire on the convoy with automatic weapons. The attack did not lead to any loss of life nor injuries among the mission participants, but the two vehicles were seriously damaged.
This attack is the first of this kind on a UN convoy since the beginning of the North-West and South-West crisis. However, several humanitarian workers have been threatened, abducted, injured, and killed to date in the two regions.
The general insecurity, especially attacks on civilians, aid workers, and essential social service providers, increases the population’s suffering and undermines humanitarian actors’ capacity to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance timely.
On behalf of the humanitarian community, the Humanitarian Coordinator calls on all parties to the crisis to abide by their obligations under intrenational human rights law and to refrain from any attacks against humanitarian organizations, educational and health care facilities and their personnel and assets. The United Nations calls for perpetrators of these attacks to be held accountable.
“Safe, timely, and unhindered access of humanitarian organizations to deliver life-saving aid to the affected population needs to be guaranteed,” said Mr. Naab.
Mr. Naab stressed the humanitarian community’s commitment to continue to support crisis- affected populations in Cameroon.
For more information, please contact:
Carla Martinez, Head of Office OCHA Cameroon, martinez14@un.org
Press releases from OCHA are available at www.unocha.org/rowca and www.reliefweb.int UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit www.unocha.org
Carla Martinez, Head of Office OCHA Cameroon, martinez14@un.org
Press releases from OCHA are available at www.unocha.org/rowca and www.reliefweb.int UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit www.unocha.org
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Press Release
30 October 2020
Cameroonian policewoman recognized by the United Nations for her work in peacekeeping
Superintendent Rebecca Nnanga of Cameroon has been selected as one of two runners-up for the UN Woman Police Officer of the Year award for 2020 for her exemplary service while serving with the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
“Through both her words and actions, United Nations Police Officer Rebecca Nnanga exemplifies the best of United Nations policing,” said Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix.
Of the nearly 1,400 policewomen deployed in UN peacekeeping operations, twenty-one were nominated for the prestigious award. The year’s winner Chief Inspector Doreen Malambo of Zambia, who serves with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), will receive the top award during a virtual ceremony presided over by Mr. Lacroix on Tuesday, 3 November. Chief Superintendent Ugorji of Nigeria, serving with the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), was chosen as the other runner-up.
UN Police Advisor Luis Carrilho, the UN’s ‘top cop,’ congratulated Superintendent Nnanga for her selection as a runner-up and said: “We commend MINUSCA United Nations Police Officer Rebecca Nnanga’s tireless efforts to increase the recruitment of women police officers, achieving a quarter of new recruits in support of the internal security forces of the Central African Republic. Rebecca leads by example and is a tremendous role model for women and men in the police and in the communities we serve.”
Superintendent Nnanga deployed to MINUSCA in 2018 and currently serves as the Chief of the mission’s recruitment cell. In this role, she has supported the recruitment of 1,000 personnel for the Central African Republic’s internal security forces over the past several years and increased the number and percentage of women included. Her support for community-oriented policing has led to measurable security improvements in local communities. She has also worked to provide assistance to vulnerable people including survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) as well as opportunities for local women to acquire new job skills. Superintendent Nnanga has been commended for her outstanding managerial abilities and for her work in ensuring good conduct and discipline among UN Police personnel.
Superintendent Nnanga joined the Cameroonian Police in 2001 and has served in assignments at the staff level and in training coordination. She has extensive experience as a UN Police Officer -- serving previously in UN peacekeeping operations in Haiti (2011-2014) as well as an earlier stint in the Central African Republic (2015-2016).
The UN Woman Police Officer of the Year award was established in 2011 to recognize the exceptional contributions of female police officers to UN peacekeeping and to promote the empowerment of women. The award carries even greater significance this year given the 20th anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.
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Press Release
27 October 2020
UN shocked and outraged over horrific attack on school in Cameroon
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/10/1076112
On 24 October, a group of armed men attacked Mother Francisca International Bilingual Academy in Kumba, in Cameroon’s restive South-West region. According to local reports, the victims were aged between 12 and 14.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on Cameroonian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure that those responsible are held accountable, his spokesperson said in a statement.
“The attack is another disturbing reminder of the exacting heavy toll on civilians, including children, many of whom have been deprived of their right to education,” said the statement.
“Attacks on education facilities are a grave violation of children’s rights,” it added.
Mr. Guterres also called on all armed actors to refrain from attacks against civilians and to respect international humanitarian and international human rights law.
He also urged the parties to answer his call for a global ceasefire, reiterating the availability of the United Nations to support an inclusive dialogue process leading to a resolution of the crisis in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon
‘Schools must be places of safety, not death traps’
In a separate statement, Henrietta Fore, Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also condemned the attack “in the strongest possible terms.”
“This has been a deadly weekend for schoolchildren in Afghanistan and Cameroon,” she said, also referring to the attack on an education centre in Kabul.
“I am shocked and outraged at these abominable attacks and condemn them in the strongest possible terms. Attacks on education are a grave violation of children’s rights,” Ms. Fore added, reiterating that schools must be places of safety and learning, “not death traps.”
‘Worst atrocity’ since schools resumed
According to the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Cameroon, Matthias Z. Naab, the attack is the worst atrocity since the resumption of the school year on 5 October, in which more students enrolled in the North-West and South-West regions than in recent years. Unrest in parts of Cameroon had affected school enrolment and access to education.
“Children have a right to education. Violence against schools and innocent school children is not acceptable under any circumstances and can constitute a crime against humanity if proven in a court of law,” said Mr. Naab.
The UN World Health Organization (WHO) has provided medical supplies to the local hospital and the NGO, Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) is assisting with medical supplies and personnel.
The UN will continue to support Government and NGO efforts to provide necessary medical assistance to the wounded, added Mr. Naab.
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Press Release
28 October 2020
Cameroon: Statement by Humanitarian Coordinator on Killing of school children in Kumba, South West Region
Yaoundé, 24 October 2020 – The Humanitarian Coordinator in Cameroon, Mr. Matthias Z. Naab, strongly condemns the attack against Mother Francisca International Bilingual Academy in Kumba, in the South West region of Cameroon in which it is reported that at least eight children were killed and another twelve wounded.
“I am shocked and outraged by the killing of innocent school children which were attending school to get an education. On behalf of the United Nations and the wider humanitarian community in Cameroon, I extend our deepest condolences to the families of the children killed and our support to the wounded and their families and to all the community”, said Mr. Naab.
On 24 October, a group of armed men attacked Mother Francisca International Bilingual Academy in Kumba. At least eight children were killed as a result of gunshots and attack with machetes. Another twelve were wounded and taken to local hospitals.
The World Health Organization has provided medical supplies to the district hospital and Médecins sans Frontières is supporting the hospital with medical supplies and personnel. The United Nations will continue to support efforts by the Government and non-Governmental organizations to provide necessary medical assistance to the wounded.
The attack against school children is the worst atrocity since the resumption of the school year on 5 October 2020 in which more students enrolled in the North-West and South-West regions than in recent years.
“Children have a right to education. Violence against schools and innocent school children is not acceptable under any circumstances and can constitute a crime against humanity if proven in a court of law. I call on the competent authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into this tragedy”, reiterated Mr. Naab.
Mr. Naab reiterated the United Nations’ call for all armed actors to refrain from any attacks against children and other civilians, and ensure that schools, medical facilities and their personnel are not subjected to violence or threats in any way.
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