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BACKGROUND

Situated on the southern basin of Lake Chad, with Maroua as its capital city, the Far North region is one of the most densely populated, but also the poorest, regions in the country. While it faces many structural problems, it is also weakened by the persistent activities of Non-State Armed Groups (GANE), which are worsening the security situation by causing large-scale and recurrent population movements, particularly from neighbouring Nigeria.

The number of internally displaced people is estimated at 453,661[1], while there are 12,2732 refugees, including 7,9305 living in the Minawao camp. In September 2024, 7,478 people were displaced as a result of insecurity in the departments of Mayo Tsanaga and Logone et Chari[2]. Security instability is exacerbating pre-existing problems of chronic malnutrition and food insecurity, which are exacerbating the growing population movements. Added to this insecurity are the floods caused by torrential rains in July and August, which affected around 356,730 people, destroyed almost 56,000 houses[3], flooded 82,509 hectares of arable land, and caused the loss of 5,278 head of cattle in 5 departments of the Far North.

These population movements are generating socio-economic imbalances, tensions over natural resources and access to basic services (water, health, education) which are superimposed on the already existing chronic food crisis. The Extreme North is marked by a very worrying malnutrition situation, with malnutrition rates of 7.9% for the host population and 10.1% for IDPs[5]. Although cereal harvests in the 2023-2024 season were 14% up on those in 2022-2023, they were poor in some departments due to pests (army worms, etc.), pachyderms and flooding[6]. All these factors point to a situation of increasing food insecurity in 2025.

[1] IOM DTM N°27 - August 2023

[2] Statistics on persons of concern to the UNHCR/Government of Cameroon, September 2024

[3] OCHA, Sitrep- Cameroon-Far North, September 2024

[4] OCHA, Note d'information sur les inondations- Cameroun- Extrême Nord, 19 September 2024

[5] OCHA, Sitrep- Cameroon-Far North, August 2024

[6] The Food Security Working Group - Far North - Assessment of the 2023 agropastoral season and food availability in the Far North region, February 2024

INTERVENTION AREAS

Phase 2 of the project is being implemented in five (5) municipalities in the Far North: Koza, Mora, Tokombéré, Mindif and Dargala,

Phase 1 of the project supported almost 36,000 people and succeeded in moving from the local to the regional level, supporting the region to become the first in Cameroon to have its own socio-economic development plan, thanks to extensive consultation work carried out by RESILAC.

For this 2nd phase, the project aims to reach nearly 45,000 people.

To find out more about RESILAC 1 in Cameroon, watch the project video (hypertext link).

Consult the final brochure on the achievements of RESILAC 1 in Cameroon

Sources: World Bank, WFP, AFD, Initial Baseline (Groupe URD-RESILAC)

PROJECT IMPLEMENTING UNIT

Based in Maroua, UMOP Cameroun is made up of Action contre la Faim, CARE, CDD, ACADIR, AJED-MR

and ALDEPA. Each organisation has staff dedicated to implementing the project.

In addition to these organizations, Groupe URD (lead for monitoring, evaluation, learning) and CCFD-Terre Solidaire (partners of ACADIR and CDD) provide indirect support for implementation.

To learn more about implementing organizations in Cameroon: consult the dedicated page!

INSTITUTIONAL ANCHORING

The operational steering committee, which meets in Maroua, is chaired by the Governor of the Region. The national steering committee, which meets in Yaoundé, is chaired by MINEPAT (Minister of Planning and Regional Development).