Workshop in Cameroon seeks to foster inclusive, gender-sensitive development practices
In celebration of Women’s Rights Month, the “Increasing the Resilience of Local Communities to Climate Change through Youth Entrepreneurship and Integrated Natural Resource Management (ACREGIR)” project hosted a transformative capacity-building workshop on gender mainstreaming and gender-transformative approaches. The workshop, convening from 11 to 12 March, was held for community stewards involved in project activities in collaboration with the Commodity Value Chain Development Support Project – Phase II (PADFA II)-ACREGIR, INBAR, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and their respective focal points. This event brought together key stakeholders from three critical project sites: Kimbi-Fumgom National Park, Waza National Park and Bénoué National Park.
The primary objective of the workshop was to strengthen the capacity of community stewards to integrate gender considerations into all aspects of project activities. The workshop focused on:
- Introducing participants to the core concepts of gender and gender-transformative approaches.
- Identifying the importance of gender in field activities and exploring ways to enhance gender inclusivity within the project.
- Providing a platform for community stewards to share feedback on gender-related challenges they face and suggest strategies for improvement.
The two-day workshop brought together 26 participants, including 13 women and 13 men, who engaged in insightful discussions on the importance of gender inclusivity, youth engagement and the involvement of vulnerable and indigenous populations. The workshop underscored the critical consequences of neglecting gender considerations in project activities and highlighted the need for institutionalizing gender across all levels of the project.
Josiane Ndomo Ngono, Gender Officer for PADFA II-ACREGIR, emphasized the importance of raising awareness of gender issues within the field. She noted, “This training will equip community stewards with practical knowledge to better integrate gender considerations into their work. Going forward, all activities must incorporate a gender lens to address the needs of all social categories within the community.”
Marie Jeanne Moudon, Gender Focal Point for INBAR-CARO, also highlighted the structural barriers to gender inclusion, including deeply rooted social norms and beliefs. She stressed that engaging men, women, youth and vulnerable groups is essential for achieving sustainable community development.
The workshop also provided an opportunity to share real-world experiences from the field. One Community Steward from Bénoué National Park shared a success story from Bawan, where 70% of the members of the SCOOPS NARRA CRR cooperative are women, actively participating in nursery and plantation management. Bella Melle, head of the Koulikaou GIC in Waza National Park, echoed the importance of women’s involvement, mentioning that women have played a crucial role in maintaining community nurseries set up by INBAR.
However, challenges remain. In Kimbi-Fumgom National Park, community stewards reported that only 20% of their activities involve women, primarily due to religious and traditional barriers. Despite mixed results, all participants agreed that significant efforts are needed to increase women’s participation and promote gender equality in these areas.
Participants expressed their gratitude to the Project Management Unit for approving this essential workshop, which has empowered them to better serve their communities by fostering inclusive, gender-sensitive development practices. This initiative marks an important step toward creating positive social and behavioral change in the communities, with a particular focus on women’s leadership and gender awareness.
Source: Site officiel INBAR – Cameroun
