UN-Habitat, UN Women supporting decentralization and SDGs implementation through social cohesion, Peacebuilding, in 05 local municipalities in Cameroon.

UN-Habitat and UN Women together with 05 municipalities of Cameroon are pursuing their action towards implementing conflict prevention and peacebuilding project within local communities through land security, shelter construction and capacity building activities, with funding from UN Secretary General’s PeaceBuilding Fund Cameroon.

The project being implemented in the territorial continuum of the 5 municipalities (Douala 4, Loum, Dschang, Babadjou and Bafoussam 3) is geared towards ensuring that all related activities are carried out in a manner that helps strengthen or rehabilitate the social fabric and promote peacebuilding among internally displaced families and host communities in relation to the wider communities of west and littoral regions of Cameroon.

The project, focusing on conflict prevention and peacebuilding through community-driven actions, aims at supporting host communities and people displaced as a result of the socio-political crisis  in  the South-West and North-West Regions, promote social cohesion and improve livelihood through land, shelter and community infrastructure development.

In a bit  to contribute to the conflict deterrence process and sustainable development, the land, housing and infrastructure gears are being supplemented by peace-promotive capacity development and livelihood support, led by local civil societies organizations.

In a drive to Complement shelter construction, the project also feeds livelihood support by training youths in construction, small-scale enterprise development, and other similar skills. Sensitization and Capacity-building for youths within the communities are strategies used within the project to push forth social cohesion and community development. Issues addressed via these campaigns include amongst other; gender and do-no-harm principles, trainings on projects, businesses in the housing sector, with a strong mindfulness for gender balance, peace building, and social development, mainstreamed into messages and trainings.

In line with the PBF Funded project, pilot shelters are under construction and will directly help to temporarily host families displaced by the Crisis in the neighboring English speaking Regions.

The project so far has donated 05 tricycles and 06 brickmaker machines to strengthen the capacities of the 05 mayors to support efforts made in improving the living conditions of IDPs and host communities. This with an aim to collectively target a broader range of stakeholders.

Over 4,000 households are expected to benefit from complementary activities like construction of houses, improvement of community infrastructure (water, sanitation, road, multipurpose centers), community development support, livelihood assistance, and peace and development initiatives.

The PBF funded project, slated to run till December 2023, is being implemented by UN-Habitat and UN-Women in collaboration with government agencies and offices such as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the ministry of Territorial Administration, the Ministry of Decentralization and local development, and the Local municipalities; with ASSOAL mobilizing local civil society organizations in participating communities.