Location

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Thematic Focus

The Problem

An ongoing armed conflict in the minority English-speaking regions of Cameroon and COVID-19 have caused socioeconomic difficulties for over 10,000 women and girls in the Mount Oku Region of northwest Cameroon. In this community, women and girls are the most vulnerable, especially those living with disabilities. The needs of these women and girls in this hard-to-reach mountain community have been increasing over time due to the armed conflict, COVID-19, and the current global economic situation as a result of the war in Ukraine.

The Solution

The Mount Oku Center for Gender and Socioeconomic Empowerment aims to increase the social and economic resilience of at least 1000 conflict-affected women and girls in the Mount Oku Region within 12 months through the delivery of key services including micro-finance, livelihood development through bee farming, digital literacy to support women’s education, and community investment in environmental protection through sustainable gardening as a strategy for building social cohesion. The center's solution to build back better is to offer an integrated approach to community resilience building. The project will result in the development of a women's cooperative which will expand and reach out to women and girls in over 14 communities in the region.

Impact

Oku is a community with existing social stereotypes that have mostly promoted gender inequalities. The project’s approach promotes women's and environmental rights by supporting the operation of a Local Women-led Community of Practice for environmental issues to ensure a sustainable community. The cooperative system will help members in gaining skills, and material and financial proceeds from the activities to combat poverty. Bee farming, forest regeneration, and sustainable gardening provide ecosystem services for the community.

SDGs

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