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04 April 2023
Promoting social cohesion and peacebuilding through vocational training in Cameroon’s SW Region
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04 April 2023
WFP Climate Adaptation support in Far North Region of Cameroon
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04 April 2023
UNESCO and IOM introduce young displaced men and women into quality information production for peace and local development in 8 councils of the Littoral and West regions of 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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04 April 2023
UNESCO engages the military academy in cultural heritage protection in Cameroon
On 10 March 2023, within the framework of the Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF) the Ministry of Arts and Culture, the Ministry of Defense, the UNESCO Regional Office for Central Africa and the Command and Staff College organized a training session on the protection and safeguarding of cultural heritage in times of peace and conflict. This activity saw the participation of 71 Captain officers (3 from Central Africa Republic – CAR) from various military corps.
UNESCO aimed to acquaint the officers and future executives of the army with the fundamentals of cultural heritage, international cultural conventions of UNESCO as well as sensitization at the level of Defense and Security Forces to include the crucially important element of cultural heritage as they carry out their duties in times of conflict. The interactive session established a connection between the law of war, international law and the protection of cultural heritage by the Defense Forces while highlighting the additional need for the protection of cultural heritage to safeguard the history and identity of the people at risk of extinction in conflict.
Using the 1954 UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, the elaborate introduction by the UNESCO heritage experts during this training highlighted the disturbing trend of heritage as a target in conflict situations. Records have demonstrated the targeting of all types of cultural heritage in war, extremism, and terrorism. Evidence in history shows that besides the looting and damage of artefacts during conflicts, cultural sites have also been targeted as part of malicious plans of cultural extinction.
“A museum or heritage site may be identified as a hideout for nonstate armed groups. Posterity depends on the discretion of the military to devise a strategic approach to clear the site without necessitating a targeted destruction.” Said Dr Franck OGOU, Director of the African School of Heritage (EPA).
Within Cameroon alone, UNESCO through the Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF) has assessed over the past 4 years damages to cultural heritage in conflict and crises situations as one of the leading consequences of war and conflicts, as well as natural disaster.
The training also reinforces the ongoing brainstorming on a roadmap towards the inclusion of heritage protection as an important module of military training.
We wish to thank the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund and its donors (the Qatar Fund for Development, the Kingdom of Norway, the French Republic, the Government of Canada, the Principality of Monaco, ANA Holdings INC., the Republic of Estonia, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Principality of Andorra, the Slovak Republic, and the Republic of Serbia) for their support which made this activity possible.
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04 April 2023
UNDP Cameroon and the Government of Japan Signed a Partnership Agreement to Support Recovery in Cameroon’s SW Region
Yaoundé, 10 March 2023 –The United Nations Development Programme, UNDP Cameroon, represented by its Acting Resident Representative, Alassane Ba, and the Government of Japan, represented by its Ambassador to Cameroon, H.E. Mr. TAKAOKA Nozomu, signed a partnership agreement for the second phase of Japan’s support to the UNDP Recovery Programme in the South West Region of Cameroon.
The new phase of the project is worth 300,000,000 Japanese Yen (approx. 2,205,720.17 USD and 1,365,475,334 XAF) and will enhance the resilience of populations in the region and accelerate recovery through the rehabilitation of essential infrastructure to promote basic service delivery in the areas of Health and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene). The specific outputs of the project are to increase access to basic healthcare services and safe drinking water for the affected populations of the South West Region of Cameroon, especially in the Meme, Manyu, Ndian, Kupe Manenguba, Lebialem, and Fako divisions. The project will be implemented between March 2023 and February 2024.
The crisis in the South West and North West regions of Cameroon which started in 2016 has triggered displacement and damaged basic infrastructure, compromising access to essential services for populations in the two regions.
UNDP Cameroon has been working with a coalition of partners, to #BuildBackBetter through the Recovery programme in the two regions. The partnership with the Government of Japan, which is so far the sole bi-lateral partnership for the programme, started with a first phase in January 2021–April 2022 and has contributed to improving living conditions for populations in the Fako Division and the rising number of IDPs from other divisions who have relocated to the Fako Division. The populations have gained access to additional health facilities and services and increased access to safe drinking water following the rehabilitation of nine Health Centres, and eleven water points in the South West region.
This new partnership will significantly scale up the efforts of the recovery programme in the South West region of Cameroon. "I am delighted with this new step in a long-standing tripartite partnership between the Republic of Cameroon, Japan, and UNDP. Urgent restoration of basic service delivery through the rehabilitation of health centres and water points is essential to counter the spread of illnesses for the affected populations, promote human security, and provide them with healthy minds fit to accelerate recovery." Expressed Mr. Alassane Ba, UNDP Cameroon’s Acting Resident Representative.
‘We strive to help the people in Cameroon, including the affected population in the South West region. Reinforcing the strong tie between Cameroon, Japan and UNDP”. H.E. Mr. TAKAOKA Nozomu Ambassador of Japan to Cameroon.
This new phase of the project and its expansion to other divisions will allow for a more even distribution of assistance across the South West region, alleviate the strain on existing health centres in other divisions, and increase access to health care and clean drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people.
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04 April 2023
Innovation: the “Alert GBV” platform officially launched in cameroon.
UNFPA Cameroon supported Women in Entrepreneurship and Technology (WE-TECH) to officially launch “Alert GBV”, its digital platform for the timely access and referral of survivors to Gender-based Violence related services. The event which was held in Douala, on Friday 17th February 2023, was also supported by the Littoral Regional Delegation of the Ministry of Women Empowerment and the Family and brought together representatives of other public administrations, members of the diplomatic corps, activists and civil soceity organisations working in the domain of GBV.
The “Alert GBV” online platform, a website with a free downloadable mobile application, ranked among the 10 world-wide winning innovations of the UNFPA, WIPO and ITU “Joint Innovation Challenge 2022” aimed at supporting women and girls’ empowerment. The platform was developed to ease access and communication to persons in need of GBV-related services and various service providers. Thanks to funding from UNFPA Headquarters, its founder, Elodie Nonga Kenla, nurtured the ambition of rolling this solution out to serve as a quick meeting point for GBV service providers and survivors. “On the platform, you can find the contacts of partners, organisations, therapists and legal practitioners who can help you in your healing and care process.” Says Elodie.
The official launching ceremony was therefore an opportunity for service providers not only to showcase their work and network but also to explore
possibilities of integrating the use of the platorm in their everyday work. It is in this light that panel discussions on various GBV-related thematics served as a means to sensitise actors and organisations on the need to harness digitalisation and innovation to efficiently provide support to the women and girls in need of it in real time.
Gender-based Violence remains a reality in Cameroon. According to the latest Demographic Health Survey (2018), 1 of 3 women is exposed to physical violence. “This is even more so due to the various socio-political and humanitarian crises affecting some regions of the country.” says Liliane Munezero, UNFPA GBV Coordinator. The ongoing crises in Cameroon have caused heavy displacements, prompting people to settle away from adequate services in search of security. A mobile and digital solution therefore comes in handy to orient and follow up survivors beyond any physical encounter from both parties. An initiative highly welcomed by Mrs. Gisèle Caroline Ekoh, Regional Delegate of the Ministry of Women Empowerment and the Family “Our Ministry is always available to support such activities…we will readily work with all organisations wishing to join us in ending GBV in Cameroon.”
UNFPA’s Strategic plan for 2022 – 2025 sets Innovation and digitalisation as one of the accelerators to help the organisation reach its 3 Transformative Results by 2030. These are
End unmet need in Family Planning
End preventable maternal deaths, and
End Gender-based violence and harmful cultural practices.
Cameroon has been supporting WE-TECH’s “Alert GBV” roll out. Prior to this official launching, UNFPA organised a workshop bringing together long-serving GBV actors and experts to restructure and fine tune the functionalities of the ‘Alert GBV’ platform to be more user-friendly and respect GBV core principles. UNFPA Cameroon and WETECH are committed to working together to use innovation and digitalisation to end GBV in Cameroon.
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04 April 2023
IOM and DELTARES work to prevent cholera in Cameroon
Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness with high morbidity and mortality rates and is one of the main public health issues in Asia and Africa. Periods of heavy flooding, such as those experienced by Cameroon in 2022, can further exacerbate cholera outbreaks.
Deltares, the United Nations University - MERIT, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Cameroon have formed a strategic collaboration to tackle cholera outbreaks in Cameroon. The collaboration follows the severe floods and subsequent cholera outbreak in 2022.
Research will be conducted to determine and assess the relevant risk factors (such as water, sanitation, and hygiene practices) which further the spread of cholera in crisis-affected areas in the north of Cameroon. There will be a special focus in and around the Minawao refugee camp, camps for internally displaced persons, and centres for ex-associates of armed groups. Field work will be carried out by Tarek Jaber, an epidemiologist Fellow at Deltares and UNU-MERIT, and Thairry Ebong, intern at Deltares and UNU-MERIT. This will include conducting interviews on cholera prevention and control measures with staff from the IOM, partner organisations, and local authorities. Focus group discussions will also be held with camp inhabitants and members from the host community to explore cholera risk factors and assess the role of mobility and cross-border migration in cholera outbreaks.
Research will be conducted to determine and assess the relevant risk factors (such as water, sanitation, and hygiene practices) which further the spread of cholera in crisis-affected areas in the north of Cameroon. There will be a special focus in and around the Minawao refugee camp, camps for internally displaced persons, and centres for ex-associates of armed groups. Field work will be carried out by Tarek Jaber, an epidemiologist Fellow at Deltares and UNU-MERIT, and Thairry Ebong, intern at Deltares and UNU-MERIT. This will include conducting interviews on cholera prevention and control measures with staff from the IOM, partner organisations, and local authorities. Focus group discussions will also be held with camp inhabitants and members from the host community to explore cholera risk factors and assess the role of mobility and cross-border migration in cholera outbreaks.
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04 April 2023
UNHCR and BUCREP partner for the inclusion of forcibly displaced people in Cameroon's 4th general census
Yaoundé, Cameroon - A Memorandum of Understand that will guarantee the inclusion of refugees in the fourth general population and housing census in Cameroon has been signed between UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and BUCREP, the Central Bureau of Census and Population Studies in Cameroon.
The UNHCR Representative in Cameroon, Oliver Beer, and the Director of BUCREP, Bernadette Mbarga, formalized the partnership between UNHCR and BUCREP on 10 March 2023, at the UNHCR Branch Office in Yaounde.
"The inclusion of forcibly displaced persons in Cameroon through the census is an important step for their protection and socio-economic inclusion," said UNHCR's Representative in Cameroon, Olivier Guillaume Beer. “Quality socio-economic data is needed to engage governments and development actors to plan and sustainably fund programs that promote resilience such as employment, education, and social protection. It is increasingly recognized that the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals depends on the degree of integration and socio-economic inclusion of displaced people in the years to come.”
The partnership will facilitate cooperation and strengthen their collaboration, to make sure that the 2 million refugees, internally displaced persons, and returnees living in Cameroon are properly identified during the census planned for late 2023. According to UNOCHA, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, there are more than one million displaced people in the Far North, North-West and South-West regions.
There are nearly 500,000 refugees living in Cameroon. More than 346,000 are of Central African origin living in developed sites or villages within host communities in the Eastern, Adamawa and Northern regions. 124,000 are of Nigerian origin living in the Far North. There are also about 24,000 refugees and asylum-seekers of more than 40 different nationalities living in urban centres such as Yaoundé and Douala.
"During this large-scale statistical exercise, refugees and IDPs, regardless of their reason for displacement, will also be taken into consideration," said BUCREP Director Bernadette Mbarga. "Specifically with regards to the availability of statistics on refugees and internally displaced persons, it will ease taking them into account in the design and implementation of national policies and programmes and development planning, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and in the spirit of leaving no one behind."
Data collected during the census will provide crucial information to determine the needs of all the different groups of people currently living in Cameroon including forcibly displaced people, in terms of services and infrastructure in various sectors such as health and education.
"Reliable and accurate information on indicators to achieve the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees will be an essential element to ensure proper monitoring. The scarcity of humanitarian funds, dwindling resources, the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic shock further underscore the value of socio-economic data in informing an inclusive and evidence-based response,” said Beer.
In the coming months, UNHCR and BUCREP will begin joint projects in preparation for the census. UNHCR will conduct trainings on how to conduct a census of refugees in and out of settlements according to the Expert Group on Refugee, IDP and Statelessness Statistics (EGRISS) approach, support awareness campaigns to increase the participation of refugees and displaced persons, donate data collection material, as well as provide supervision during the data collection phase in November and December 2023. UNHCR will also facilitate access to refugee settlements for the census teams.
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04 April 2023
Strengthening Temples of Heritage: How the Heritage Emergency Fund of UNESCO is supporting museums professionals in safeguarding museum collections in Cameroon.
With the funding support from the Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF), UNESCO carried out evaluations on Heritage sites in Cameroon’s Far North and Northwest crisis-affected regions. These assessments showed the rapid deterioration and disappearance of cultural heritage. The Boko Haram Crisis in the Far North Region and the socio-political crisis in the Northwest and Southwest Regions have had drastic consequences on population movements, resulting in abandonment, looting and destruction of cultural goods in these regions. The Lifafa Museum in the Southwest Region and the Logone Birni in the Far North region were the most recent affected by natural disasters.
As these disasters persist within the context of conflicts and climate change hazards, UNESCO tailored the workshop sessions with modules aimed at empowering museum professionals to mitigate the impacts on museum collections. The modules included current approaches to sustainable documentation of museum especially through digital transformative tools and resources.
Part of the training engaged the participants in practical sessions on how to administer first aid to cultural heritage in crisis. During one of the sessions, Dr Frank Ogou, the cultural expert and Director of the School of African Heritage trained the participants in identifying, documenting and safeguarding collections in cases of flood, fire, theft, and other related risks. He engaged in expanded knowledge on museum management including preventive conservation of museum collections and security of museum collections in case of natural disaster like flooding and anthropic disaster like fire.
“It was very impressive as I learned new skills on how to manipulate objects in museums, the various emergency security measures put in place in case urgency situations in the museum and how to preserve objects from deteriorating and arriving a stage of curative conservation.” Reported Mrs Etung Atumkeze, Staff of the Department of Cultural Heritage Ministry of Arts and Culture.
As the Director of Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Arts and Culture mentioned in closing remarks, it was important to give a national perspective to the training to strengthen the skills of curators as regard security and safety of museums. An important outcome of the successful workshop was the drafting of a security plan for museums and heritage in times of emergency by all 40 participants.
We wish to thank the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund and its donors (the Qatar Fund for Development, the Kingdom of Norway, the French Republic, the Government of Canada, the Principality of Monaco, ANA Holdings INC., the Republic of Estonia, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Principality of Andorra, the Slovak Republic, and the Republic of Serbia) for their support which made this activity possible.
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04 April 2023
UNFPA Cameroon strives to achieve gender equality by bridging the digital divide
UNFPA Cameroon joined the United Nations System, the Cameroon Government, Civil Society Organisations & the International Community in commemorating the International Women's Day 2023 under the theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”.
Dr. Justin Koffi, UNFPA Resident Representative, in his capacity as UN Cameroon Resident Coordinator a.i. led UN team through a week long set of activities aimed at promoting both women’s rights & digital inclusion for all in Cameroon. This included, among others, a sports walk, a mini-football tournament, a townhall, the launching of the International Fair for the African Woman, a conference and the official march-past.
Digital inclusion is now embedded in the quest for Gender equality to bridge the digital divide. UNFPA Cameroon staff advocated & sensitised the women, men & girls in our various duty stations of Maroua, Douala, Bamenda,Bertoua and Yaounde to promote a violence free & an inclusive digital world.
According to Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director, in her official statement “The exclusion of women and girls in technology is perpetuated through violence and discrimination.”
In this light, UNFPA staff participated in a set of conferences organised at the University of Yaounde 1 by the Ministry of Women Empowerment and the Family alongside the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications to advocate for more women to make use of digital space for their empowerment. This brought together the two ministers involved, UN Representatives, University lecturers and students.
Other activities carried out ahead of the celebration included a conference organised by UNFPA in partnership with the Littoral Regional Delegation of Women Empowerment and the Family. Discussions were on the theme "Digitalisation and GBV" and brought together activists in the Tech and GBV spaces. Discussions enlightened particpants on the risks of online violence to which women are exposed in the digitalspace as an obstacle to them fully and freely navigating and harnessing its advantages. This was also an opportunity to reflect on possible solutions to this situation. A similar talk was held in Bamenda, North West Region, with Internally Displaced, vulnerable and GBV survivor women in the Region. This was aimed at having them reflect on women’s empowerment towards action & transformation in their communities.
On the other hand, the UNFPA team in Buea, in collaboration with WFP, ran a capacity building workshop with women on the use of digital platforms to combat technology-facilitated GBV and disseminate gender-responsive communications. The participants were also taught how to better leverage those platforms to foster their socioeconomic empowerment by engaging in income-generating activities through the digital marketing of farm products.
In Maroua, for example, hundreds of women and men turned out to express their commitment to promote women's rights and dignity in the course of a sports walk in the streets of Maroua as part of the commemoration activities ahead of the International Women's Day. Participants included leaders of women-led organizations supported by UNFPA as well as UNFPA staff.
This nation-wide interventions attested of UNFPA's affective presence in the country and the existing collaboration with the various administrations on ground for the development and provision of GBV prevention and response mechanisms. These include: psycho-social support, the distribution of dignity and hygiene kits and cash transfer.
Happy International Women’s Day to all the Cameroonian Women.
At UNFPA, we believe in Positive Masculinity, Women Empowerment, Women In Technology and Ending GBV online.
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04 April 2023
UNESCO and IOM introduce young displaced men and women into quality information production for peace and local development in 8 councils of the Littoral and West regions of Cameroon.
“As we received a massive number of people in Nkongsamba due to the ongoing crisis in neighboring regions, the new realities of coexistence led to many tensions between host communities and displaced persons. I knew for sure our public communication approach at the radio had to change” – said participant Mohamadou Lawal, radio animator from Nkongsamba FM in the West Region.
UNESCO, under the joint GYPI/PBF project (with IOM) on “Peaceful Coexistence” in the Littoral and West regions of Cameroon, organized a three-day capacity building workshop aimed at equipping young communication drivers with knowledge and skill in producing quality information on peaceful coexistence in communities sheltering displaced persons in the Babadjou, Bafoussam I, Mbouda and Santchou Councils in the West Region; and Douala 4, Manjo, Melong and Nkonsamba I Councils of the Littoral Region.
The workshop which took place in Kribi (Cameroon) welcomed 56 participants from the Littoral and West regions, including community radio animators, Municipal Counsellors, local leaders of the National Youth Council and Peace and Gender Focal Points in the project's eight councils.
“The process of collecting, processing, and disseminating information on societal issues is no longer the exclusive domain of trained journalists. Today with the help of simple mobile devices and related technologies, individuals collect and spread information for mass consumption. The risk of misinformation exists and the consequences involved can be massive considering the vulnerability of the displaced persons” – said Mr. Hugues Ndih, Project Coordinator and lead facilitator.
Considering the fact that the communication process could be a serious instrument of social peace and harmonious living together, respectful of fundamental human rights, the challenge of the workshop was to mobilize the young people who are so active on digital and traditional communication platforms (community radio stations), to understand the importance of peace in relation to the production of information for mass consumption in the local civic space that is their common living environment.
The workshop unfolded with five modules geared towards training the participants in greater understanding of community communication processes and the production of quality information through a responsible production process involving collection, processing and dissemination of quality information. In practical sessions, the participants sat in groups to brainstorm and develop editorial contents for development and peacebuilding.
“I came to the workshop with many questions about the limits of our journalism freedom to communicate news in a timely manner; because, a scene I once witnessed led me to convey the information as I saw it, and it led to very serious effects on my work. After the first session of the workshop, I understood that information which can cause conflict and aggravate tensions in the community must be properly assessed and carefully disseminated; while waiting for legal investigations to unveil the truth.” Said Mohamadou Lawal animator air Nkongsamba FM in the Littoral Region.
Further sessions of the workshop trained the participants in producing radio programs, production of gender-sensitive digital content for communities, in their effort to promote peaceful coexistence and local development. Peace and gender focal points too got skilled on GBV reporting by means of quality information production.
At the end of successful workshop, Mohamadou and two other participants (Joshua from Bafoussam I and Jones from Mbouda) presented a song for peacebuilding which they composed during the workshop.
“We did not know each other before coming here, but by the end of the workshop we are not only friends, we are now brothers and a music group. We were inspired by UNESCO’s introductory module on peacebuilding and peaceful co-existence in the beginning of the workshop and so we made a song for peace.” Mohamadou said.
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04 April 2023
Promoting social cohesion and peacebuilding through vocational training in Cameroon’s SW Region
"We started on a low scale, with limited materials and resources; the centre could only host about 10 to 15 learners. The situation got worse when the centre got dilapidated and shut down, due to the difficulty in our region," recounts Madam Sally Derval Lifanda, President of the Fako Empowerment Platform (FEP), in Buea, the capital of the South-West Region of Cameroon.
The Fako Empowerment Platform is an initiative founded by eight grassroots organisations in the South-West Region of Cameroon. It was created to improve livelihood opportunities for vulnerable youth, women, survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), and internally displaced persons through vocational training. More generally, the platform provided a safe haven for vulnerable populations and a place to positively exchange with peers. In 2019, the centre was forced to shut down its activities due to the crisis in the North-West and South-West regions of the country.
Within the framework of the Presidential Plan for Reconstruction and Development, the UNDP Cameroon Recovery Programme engaged the FEP to help reopen its doors with improved facilities, equipment, and resources to better support populations in building economic resilience. Rehabilitation of the platform started in 2021 and was officially completed in 2022.
In addition to rehabilitating the physical building of the FEP, the Programme provided the centre with 63 sewing machines for the tailoring workshop, as well as kitchen and catering equipment to allow students to run the catering services. A Tech Hub was also constructed and equipped with computers and IT accessories to serve as a research centre for local youth and encourage learning, particularly in the STEM field.
"Access to these services has significantly rekindled confidence in the vulnerable youths and women; they now have the required skills, are economically empowered, and can take care of themselves." Madam Sally confirms with confidence. "We hope other partners could come in and provide start-up kits for the learners to gain full independence, and a bus to transport vulnerable youths who live in hard-to-reach communities," noted Madame Sally, highlighting the need for further support.
The empowered youth and women are happy with the outcome of their empowerment and now dream of a better future. "I stopped schooling in form five due to numerous constraints. But today, I can support my needs, thanks to the opportunity I had to learn tailoring at the Fako Empowerment Platform. I now make assorted designs, including party and traditional wears." Ms. Martha Limunga a 22-year-old trainee at the centre.
"I was passionate about graphic design but could not afford it. When I found the Fako Empowerment Platform, I found a ready solution to my worries. Today, I am a qualified designer with many clients, while also training other girls and boys in graphic design." Njing Linus, a graduate of the FEP Tech Hub.
Other key actions of the programme to improve social cohesion and promote peace and security include working with partners to facilitate the issuance of lost certificates like ID cards, birth certificates, and academic certificates; bringing the affected communities together through socio-cultural activities like festivals and sports competitions; advocating for peacebuilding through workshops and the creation of committees to mitigate risks in the communities; and empowering media houses through training and the provision of equipment that will permit them to produce quality programmes for peacebuilding and reach more people in the communities.
"Alongside promoting social cohesion and peacebuilding, the programme is also working with the government and partners to rehabilitate essential infrastructures, especially schools, health centres, and roads, and to support the revitalization of the local economy to promote income-generating activities and generate employment opportunities in the region." Ivo Lysinge, Project Coordinator, UNDP Recovery Programme, SW Region, Cameroon.
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Press Release
04 April 2023
UNHCR and CIFOR-ICRAF officialize partnership for resilience and sustainable use of forest resources in communities affected by forced displacement in Cameroon
forestry and agroforestry research, have formalized an agreement to work together to strengthen the resilience of refugees and host community members, while safeguarding the sustainable management of forest resources in areas affected by forced displacement in Cameroon.
A Memorandum of Understanding between both organizations was signed on 23 March 2023 in Yaounde, with the UNHCR Representative for Cameroon, Olivier Guillaume Beer signing for the UN agency and Richard Eba'a and Ann Degrande for CIFOR and ICRAF respectively, to find ways of improving the living standards of refugees and internally displaced people, while reducing their environmental footprint.
"Refugees as well as host community members very often use wood for cooking and other activities, which has a significant impact on the environment, including the loss of trees. This in turn threatens peaceful coexistence, exacerbates the risks of gender-based violence, and worsens the effects of climate change," said UNHCR Representative Olivier Beer. "This Memorandum of Understanding is therefore a crucial step towards mitigating any adverse effects brought on by the prolonged stay of people in a situation of forced displacement, while supporting resilience and sustainable development in areas that host people served by UNHCR."
By combining their efforts to mobilize resources for the improvement of the livelihoods of refugees and host community members as well as the sustainable use of forests, UNHCR and CIFOR-ICRAF are aiming to reduce their vulnerability, in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals on zero hunger, good health and wellbeing, affordable and clean energy, and climate change.
"Including energy supply and livelihood options early on in interventions in refugee situations makes it easier to avoid damage and long-term impacts," said Abdon Awono, a CIFOR-ICRAF scientist. "Moreover, community involvement and local governance support are essential to the success of such programs".
UNHCR and CIFOR-ICRAF will begin their collaboration in Garoua-Boulai Subdivision in the East Region, which hosts over 64,000 Central African refugees. Both organizations have agreed to conduct participative research to allow various groups within communities to be part of the process of finding and implementing solutions that improve the management of natural resources, so they can build futures for themselves and generations to come.
UNHCR serves over two million people in Cameroon, of whom 475,000 are refugees. 347,000 of them are Central African refugees living in settlements, towns and villages in the East, Adamawa, and North Regions. Another 126,000 are Nigerian refugees living in and out of Minawao camp in the Far North Region. There are also 24,000 refugees of several nationalities living in urban areas like Yaounde and Douala. According to UNOCHA, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, there are more than one million internally displaced people in Cameroon, and over 557,000 returnees.
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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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