Emergency response to the humanitarian needs of vulnerable, displaced, and local populations affected by the crisis in Cameroon’s Far North (April 2021 to March 2022)

By the end of the project, a total of 104,622 (71,094 W / 33,528 M) vulnerable people from displaced populations and host communities in Cameroon’s Far North region, who continue to be affected by the devastating repercussions of the violence by the ISWAP, as well as the health and socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, will have their basic needs met, their suffering alleviated, their human dignity upheld, and their lives saved.  

Intermediate outcomes 1100 + 1200 + 1300 toward ultimate outcome 1000 

The ultimate outcome will result from the three intermediate outcomes, which all involve a behaviour change fostering the sustainability of the project’s benefits. The term “increased use” is used to mean increased actual and repeated, even regular, use of the services or product in question. Thus, the services and benefits expected in the intermediate outcomes will contribute to 1000 – Relieve the suffering, enhance and maintain human dignity, and save the lives of vulnerable people, especially women and girls, affected by the humanitarian crisis in Cameroon’s Far North region.  

1100 – Increased use of comprehensive, quality health and nutrition services and of improved and sustainable water facilities for the vulnerable populations targeted, especially women and children.  

As shown by the assessment by CDD-Caritas in August 2020, and by the very positive results of the previous projects, the poor health services (including in maternal health), the significant nutritional deficiencies, particularly for pregnant and nursing women and for children aged 0 to 5, and the lack of drinking water are among the main vulnerability factors that the project can (i) relatively easily address given the CDD-Caritas infrastructure and resources in the area; and that ii) contribute to saving lives, alleviating suffering, and restoring dignity where it has been compromised. The strategy is both therapeutic/reactive (care, SAM treatment, GBV referral, etc.) and preventive (WASH activities, GAM and prenatal screening, protection plans, awareness-raising, training, etc.) 

1200 – Safe and increased use of food security for the vulnerable populations targeted, particularly women and children.  

The intensification of the crisis continues to lead to significant inadequacies in food self-sufficiency for displaced and vulnerable populations which are characterized by endemic adoption of negative coping mechanisms, particularly among women. The ability to maintain food security will positively impact the local populations’ health and nutritional status, especially when combined with a health care service offering, clean water supply, and nutritional care for malnourished children (1100). The ability to meet these food-related needs will enable the most vulnerable people to look after their health and that of their families, reducing abandonment of or absence from health services (1120) or malnutrition treatment (1130) due to lack of time or to the need to prioritize immediate survival. Also, the strategy engaged in here will enable these people and their families to meet their nutritional needs and thereby favour their health status without resorting to these mechanisms, thereby safely reducing the protection risks to which these individuals are exposed (1300). This outcome will directly contribute to alleviating suffering and saving lives, while the support and self-empowerment strategy will enhance human dignity.  

1300 – Increased use of essential protection services, including GBV case management for women, girls, GBV survivors, and other vulnerable individuals. 

As shown by the data from previous projects, women and girls are always disproportionately impacted by the adverse effects of humanitarian crises, particularly in terms of their physical and psychological safety, especially in a forced migration context. Adding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic makes it all the more urgent and essential to ensure that they have access to protection services and to mobilize women and their communities to counter this danger. In addition, human dignity is based on a sense of security and involves the full development of individuals and the opportunity for them to participate directly in decisions that affect them and their community. As such, women, girls and the most vulnerable people (children, seniors, people with disabilities, etc.) must be placed at the centre of humanitarian responses at all phases of the project cycle. Moreover, by guaranteeing them access to and control of the resources that enable them to meet their vital needs (1200), they will avoid resorting to negative coping mechanisms.