Cameroon

Key findings and conclusions at the national level

• Community-level resilience building plans and activities should focus on addressing the main drivers of risk, especially floods
• Collaboration between government, civil society organisations and local communities, as a successful model for implementing effective disaster risk reduction plans and activities, need to be recognised and institutionalised
• Coherence between climate change adaptation and mitigation, disaster risk reduction and ecosystem management approaches with development, need to be institutionalised

Access to resources

In Cameroon, over 89% of community members surveyed said that they have no access to resources to address risk or threats. Access to resources is essential to risk-informed development because it gives communities the power to lead the implementation of development actions. 

Surveys undertaken in Cameroon

Our Views from the Frontline surveys in Cameroon were undertaken in 2019.

Who was surveyed?

We surveyed 1,095 random households, 161 civil society organisations, 156 local government representatives, and undertook 85 community consultations.

Risk locations prioritised

We prioritised four risk areas:

• Ré Southwestern risk zone
• Center risk zone
• Northern risk zone
• Littoral risk zone

Communities surveyed

We surveyed people from 15 communities: Lower Motowoh, Unity Quarters, Mankon Town, Bamenda upstation, Nkolbikok, Nkolbisson, Nkoldoué, Mokolo Ilobi, Maga, Lagdo, Tibati, Mont Ngaoundere, Douala Village, Bois de senge and Makepe missoke.

Our impact

Activities undertaken in response to community-level findings and conclusions

• Increased awareness of disaster risk reduction and risk issues by installing community information boards
• Promoted nature-based solutions and protected water catchment areas by planting tress and constructing canals to channel rain water, as well as deploying water cleaning equipment to protect rivers from flooding
• Strengthened engagement of civil society organisations by creating discussion platforms on building resilience

Impact of activities

• The capacity of communities has been strengthened to understand risk and early warning systems for any potential disasters, meaning those at risk are prepared and can take mitigation measures to reduces the impact of disasters
• We’ve strengthened the capacities of community groups on the importance of working in groups and building responsiveness and resilience
• Locals have gained knowledge on floods, landslides, water conservation techniques, environment conservation, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) techniques
• Communities are more involved in the implementation of actions taken to reduce their risk

Our project partners in Cameroon

Our Views from the Frontline programme is implemented by GNDR member organisations and partners in the country.

National coordinating organisation

• Geotechnology, Environmental Assessment and Disaster Risk (GEADIRR)

Partner organisations

• Ligue pour la Didactique de l’Education à l’Environnement et au Développement Durable
• Association Camerounaise pour le Développement, l’Entraide Sociale et la Protection de l’Environnement
• Community Agriculture and Environmental Protection Association Cameroon
• Association of Cameroonian for OMEP or World Organisation for Early Childhood Education Cameroon National Committee