PRESEC project launched in response to migrating populations in Northern Regions of Cameroon

On 27 November 2017 the twin projects PRESEC and RESILI(A)NT were officially launched in the Mont Fébé Hotel in Yaoundé. The high level advocacy event was chaired by a state representative from the Ministry of Economy, Planning & Regional Development (MINEPAT). He was joined by the Ambassador’s Representative from the EU Delegation to Cameroon, Country Director of Action Contre la Faim (ACF) and the SNV Managing Director for Agriculture, Andre de Jager.

The ceremony brought together 70 officials and development stakeholders from public, diplomatic, private, civil society and media spheres. The event centred on ensuring stability and reducing the internal and external movement of persons in the Northern Regions of Cameroon. In fact, the projects are both responding to the migrating populations of the Northern Regions of Cameroon and are funded through the European Union Emergency Trust Fund (EUTF) for Africa and are worth €20 million in total. The projects are managed by two separate consortia: the PRESEC project consortium consists of two local NGOs, CADEPI and APROSPEN and is led by SNV in Cameroon. The RESILI(A)NT project is managed by a consortium led by ACF together with Solidarités Internationales, CARE France, Premiers Urgences International and Croix Rouge Française.

Speaking at the opening ceremony in Yaoundé, the Representative of the Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Cameroon, H.E Hans-Peter Schadek said the financial support is aimed at enabling people to carry out income-generating activities in a situation when many are forced to leave their communities because of growing insecurity in the Northern Regions coupled with growing food insecurity. He noted that lack of basic utilities, youth unemployment and other social ills have caused thousands of young people to flee their areas of origin and are now living under deplorable conditions in need of support. “This support from the EU for people in an emergency situation, is not an isolated action. The EU is mobilising resources in response to the prevailing situation in these regions. This is our own way of participating in nation building and promoting peace through local development.” The EU diplomat stated.

SNV Managing Director of Agriculture, André de Jager declared that SNV prioritises agriculture as a means to increase productivity of farms and provide employment opportunities in the affected areas. The instability and associated challenges witnessed in parts of the Northern Regions are difficult to overcome. “When people do not have the opportunity to work, they are likely to move. Sometimes they get involved in bad practices that are causing instability. To this effect, we are going to make agriculture a priority to enable young people, who face these difficulties, to work and stop moving out” Andre de Jager told reporters present at the launch.

The EU-funded PRESEC project targets internally and externally displaced persons – more specifically women, young people and refugees hosted by host communities in the Northern Regions of Cameroon. The project, according to the EU delegation, is also intended for victims of acts of banditry and insecurity in the border localities of the Adamawa, North and Far North Regions of Cameroon. The project will focus on livelihood projects related to agriculture, livestock and fisheries. The project will also implement behaviour change campaigns that will build on SNV's Sustainable Nutrition for All (SN4A) and WASH approaches, intended to improve the communities' access to for drinking and irrigation water.

The official launching of PRESEC and RESILI(A)NT will continue in the project regions: 7 December 2017 in Garoua, 12 December 2017 in Ngaoundere and 19 December 2017 in Maroua in the presence of regional stakeholders.