Mission 21 and United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) are supporting vulnerable households in targeted communities in crisis-affected regions of Cameroon. The targeted communities in this phase of the project are Bamendankwe (Northwest region), Tiko (Southwest Region), Kotto (Littoral Region), and Magba (West Region).
The project aims to provide essential food and non-food assistance to some 300 highly vulnerable households targeting some 1500 individuals and to provide menstrual hygiene (WASH) items to 1,000 girls and women of menstrual age to the target group in these displacement affected communities
These communities are hosting large number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) fleeing the arms conflict that has engulfed most of the Northwest and Southwest regions for the past 9 years and running. The choice of these communities was due to their relative safety, high concentration of IDPs, and limited access to humanitarian assistance. Many displaced families have sought refuge in these communities, where host households and community structures are under increasing pressure to meet their needs.
An Inclusive and Participatory Community Approach
Mr. Mukong Lumumba, Country Coordinator for Mission 21 and the project lead said the project adopts a participatory and community-based approach to ensure transparency, accountability, and local ownership. Initial access to the target communities he said was achieved through dialogue and negotiation with relevant community authorities.
This he added was followed by the setting up of inclusive community committees in each project area, bringing together internally displaced persons, host community members, youth, elders, women, traditional leaders, and representatives of churches and mosques. It is these committees he said that play a central role in identifying the most vulnerable households and ensuring that no group or voice is excluded.
Mr. Matuke Ulrich Ndeme, communication head at Mission 21 tells City Web that it’s the same committee that uses participatory vulnerability and needs assessments to identify priority food, non-food, and hygiene needs of the vulnerable household. The findings he added are analysed and shared with the committee, alongside transparent discussions on available project resources. From this the Project representatives and the committees collectively decided how assistance should be prioritised, ensuring that support responds to the most urgent needs in a fair and transparent manner Mr. Ndeme added.
The committees also played a key role in the procurement process through the identification of potential local suppliers within their communities and supported the preparation and dissemination of invitations to bid. Bids received from interested suppliers were reviewed and analysed, and suppliers were selected based on quality, compliance, and value for money. This process ensured transparency and accountability, while at the same time supporting local businesses and strengthening the local economy.
Mr. Mukong Lumumba says it’s through this kind of partnership, that Mission 21 and UMCOR reaffirm their shared commitment to delivering dignified, transparent, and participant-driven humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations in Cameroon.
What has been achieved So Far
So far, the project has; identified vulnerable households through committee-led processes, completed the participatory vulnerability and needs assessments, has finalized priority items and quantities for food, non-food, and menstrual hygiene support in all the chosen localities. The have also conducted the transparent local market bidding processes and have selected qualified local vendors.
What Next?
The project will proceed with procurement, repackaging, branding, and distribution of items within the communities. In addition, menstrual health education sessions will be conducted for women and girls in the weeks ahead.
Who are Mission 21 and UMCOR?
Mission 21 is implementing this humanitarian intervention in partnership with UMCOR, the global humanitarian relief arm of the United Methodist Church.
For over 80 years, UMCOR has responded to humanitarian crises around the world, working with partners in more than 100 countries, including Cameroon. UMCOR provides emergency relief, supports long-term recovery, and assists displaced persons, migrants, and refugees when disasters or conflict overwhelm the capacity of local communities. Guided by Christian values, UMCOR is committed to protecting the vulnerable, supporting the weak, and restoring hope and dignity.
On the other hand, Mission 21 is an international organisation working with over 70 partner churches and organizations across four continents. For more than 200 years, Mission 21 has been committed to promoting a life of dignity for all people, grounded in Christian faith and values of peace and justice. Its work focuses on ensuring access to food, healthcare, education, and social inclusion, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, culture, or background.