UNESCO and IOM strengthen coexistence in 8 councils peaceful in Cameroon: In favour of the socio-economic self-reliance of IDPs

UNESCO and IOM have launched a project in Cameroon to strengthen peaceful coexistence and empower young Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in 8 local councils of the Littoral and West regions

Funded by the United Nations Peace Building Fund (PBF), the project (Peaceful coexistence and empowerment of displaced youths in the West and Littoral regions of Cameroon) targets over 300 young people including 20% from the host communities and seeks to protect and promote IDP’s basic rights such as access to information and employment opportunities, national identity recovery, and their active participation in activities of local councils.

Stakeholders present at the launch on June 25 in Douala lauded the initiative and nursed hopes that the project on peaceful coexistence helps foster peace in the Littoral and West regions that grapple with inflating population due to the massive influx of IDP’s from the restive Northwest and Southwest regions of the country.

In the eight council areas that include Babadjou, Mbouda, Bafoussam 1er, Santchou, Melong, Nkongsamba 1er, Manjo and Douala 4, 60% of funding will be dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of young women. The project intends to establish partnerships with training centers and create platforms to enable intercultural exchange between displaced persons and the host communities to provide inclusive opportunities that empower both groups of women and men.

Ahead of the launch of this project, local partners were identified including, civil society organizations, mayors, and local officials to facilitate the implementation of activities under this project. These partners were later drilled on the UN principles of Do No Harm, Leave No One Behind and the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA).

Prof. NKOT Fabien, coordinator of the PBF Technical Secretariat in Cameroon, used the occasion to urge project’s stakeholders to ensure a successful implementation to transform internally displaced young people into peacebuilders.