Garoua, July 22 to 26, 2024 – The RIBADOU hotel hosted a series of decisive workshops as part of the PBF GYPI DDR Gender Project titled “Women for Inclusive Reintegration in Cameroon”. These workshops were designed to strengthen the engagement of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in general, and Women’s Organizations (WOs) in particular, in the national Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process, as well as to support the National Committee for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (CNDDR) in its collaborative approach with civil society.
The main objective of the workshops was to develop and validate a policy for engaging women’s organizations in Mental Health, Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and DDR. These events were an opportunity to present the project results, discuss the needs of women’s organizations, and prepare an operational framework document to strengthen collaboration between the different stakeholders.
The workshops were held in two key phases. The first phase, the « Policy Development Workshop », was held from July 22 to 25, 2024, in Garoua and brought together 35 participants. Its objective was to take stock of the needs of women’s organizations in terms of MHPSS and DDR, and to prepare an operational framework to support their engagement in the national DDR process. During this first workshop, the following were represented: the CNDDR, the Technical Secretariat of the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (UNPBF), administrative sectors (MINAT, MINJEC, MINPROFF, MINAS), traditional authorities, IOM, UN Women, the WO beneficiaries of the project, as well as implementation partners such as ALVF-EN and LOYOC.
The second phase, titled « Policy Validation Workshop », was held on July 26, 2024, with the aim of validating the operationaThese workshops are part of a broader approach aimed at strengthening the capacities of women’s organizations so that they play a more active role in DDR processes in Cameroon. Furthermore, by allowing these organizations to better understand the MHPSS and DDR issues and by facilitating their participation in the coordination structures, the project aspires to a more inclusive and effective reintegration of DDR beneficiaries.
Strengthening the capacities of women’s organizations and their increased involvement in the DDR process are essential to achieve the objectives of the CNDDR’s 2021-2025 Gender Strategy. This approach is in line with the recommendations of the United Nations and other international documents on the participation of women in peace and reconciliation processes.
Furthermore, this initiative has not only formalized crucial engagement policies, but has also laid the foundations for strengthened collaboration between the CNDDR and civil society organizations. In doing so, it significantly contributes to a more inclusive and sustainable reintegration of women in national DDR processes.
Jointly implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UN Women with the participation of the CSO Association for the Fight against Violence against Women in the Far North (ALVF-EN) and the Local Youth Corner (LOYOC) NGO, the PBF GYPI Project under the coordination of the CNDDR aims to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the DDR process in Cameroon. This project, funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), spans a duration of 18 months from January 2023 to July 2024.
l framework document developed during the first workshop. This phase saw the participation of 58 people, with the involvement of key actors from the first workshop.
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