VSO Cameroon strategy 2012-15

VSO Cameroon Strategy2012-15

Contents

Foreword 3VSO in Cameroon 4Our focus 5Climate change 6Partnerships: the way we work 6Joint programming and alliances 7

VSO Cameroon Strategy 2012-15

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Our vision

• Fewerwomendieinchildbirth.• Morewomenareeconomically

independent.• Moregirlscompleteprimaryeducation

andenrolldinsecondaryeducation.• Morewomenareliterate,understand

theirrightsandknowwheretofindtheinformationtheyneedtoinfluencetheirlives.

• Morewomenareinpoliticalandeconomicpositions.

• Moremenandwomenbelieveingenderequality.

VSOCameroon’sholisticprogrammereflectstheinterlinkednatureofthesechanges,targetingchangesincapacity,attitudeandbehaviourofwholecommunities,traditionalandreligiousleadersandgovernments.

Country facts

Population:20,030,400Official language:French,EnglishHuman Development Index (HDI):150,LeastDevelopedCountryGross Domestic Product (GDP):US$22.39billionLiving below poverty line:40%Life expectancy:51.6years

Foreword

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VSOisaleading,independent,non-governmentalorganisation(NGO).Webelievethatchangehappensbecausepeoplemakeithappen.Providingfood,infrastructureandmachineryisimportant,butwebelievepeoplearethekeytoovercomingpoverty.

That’swhyweworkthroughvolunteers.Drawnfrommanycountriesandallwalksoflife,theygivetheirtime,expertiseandpassion.Volunteerssharetheirskillswithincarefullyselectedpartnerorganisations,rangingfromgrassrootsgroupstogovernmentministries.It’sapowerful,cost-effectivewaytocreatelastingresults.

Togetherweworktoimprovepoorpeople’saccesstoqualityessentialservices,informationandideasthatlinkthemtothewiderworld.TheVSOnetworkhelpspoorandmarginalisedpeopleunderstandtheirrightsandempowersthemtoparticipateasequal,fully-valuedmembersoftheirsociety.

What we doWeworkwithawiderangeofpartnerswhoseworkalignswithourobjectives,fromcommunitygroupstogovernmentministries.Weaimtoincreasethepowerofdisadvantagedwomentodemandandaccessgrowth-orientedeconomicopportunitiesandqualityeducationandhealthservices.

VSOCameroonprovidesorganisationalandinstitutionaldevelopmentsupporttothesepartners.Partnerorganisationsidentifypriorityareasforsupport,egfinancialmanagement,fundraising,strategicplanning,projectmanagement,humanresources,monitoringandevaluation.Allsupportrequestsareassessedonwhethertheywilldirectlylinktoimprovedservicedeliveryforourclientgroup,namely,women.

By2015,VSOCameroonexpectstoreachanestimated794,000directfemalebeneficiariesthroughourpartnerorganisations,andafurther2,650,000throughouradvocacyandlobbyingefforts.

Weseekopportunitiestopromoteactivecitizenship,encouragingandsupportingindividualstoplayanactiveroleintheircommunities.

How we do itInternationalandnationalvolunteersbringexpertiseintheareasoflivelihoods,communitymobilisation,communityhealth,midwifery,educationalinclusion,disabilityandinclusion,literacy,lawandlegalrights,advocacyandthemanagementofcivilsocietyandlocalgovernment.

VSOCameroonadoptsthe‘clusterapproach’,whereateamofvolunteerswithspecific,complementaryskill-setsworkcollaborativelytoaddressthemultiple-capacityneedsofarangeofpartners.Theyalsoprovideopportunitiestoworkmoreflexibly,tailorsupporttoeachpartner’sneeds,andworkwheretheycanhavemostimpact.

Theclusterapproachallowsustoworkeffectivelywithsmallcommunity-basedorganisations(CBOs)andinformalwomen’sgroups,aswellaswithregionalorganisations.

Volunteerinterventionsfocusonbuildingthecapacityofourpartnerorganisationsinordertoimprovedeliveryofbasicservices.

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Cameroonisrichinnaturalresourcesandhasarelativelydiversifiedeconomyandastablegovernment.Atthesametime,40%ofCameroonians(andgrowing)livebelowthepovertythreshold.ThecountryisunlikelytomeetanyofitsMillenniumDevelopmentGoalsby2015.

Cameroon’sGrowth and Employment Strategy Paperemphasisesdecentralisationtocreatespacefor“genderintegrationregardingwomen’sparticipationindecision-makingandconsiderationofgender-specificneedsindesigninglocaldevelopmentplans”.Significantsupportatalllevelsofsocietyisneededforthistohappeninpractice.

VSOhasbeenoperatinginCameroonsince1998.Previously,VSOCameroonhadthreeprogrammes–HIVandAIDS,participationandgovernance,andeducation–operatingintheFarNorthandNorthWestandaModelForestprojectintheEastandSouth.

Thenewstrategicdirectionbuildsonthemostpowerfulelementsoftheformerprogrammesandthestrengthofexistingrelationships.GuidedbyVSO’sPeople First strategyitisanintegratedprogrammewithaclearclientfocusandvision.

Where we workVSOCameroonfocusesonfourregions:theNorth,theFarNorth,theNorthWestandtheModelForestareasofDjaandMpomo(East)andCampoMa’an(South).ThetwopoorestregionsaretheNorth(anewareaforus)andtheFarNorth.TheNorthWestiswherewehavehadthemostimpactandwherecivilsocietyandcouncilsarethemostdynamic.Andlastly,theModelForestareasofDjaandMpomo(East)andCampoMa’an(South)areconsideredasoneinterventionarea.

Strategic planning processVSOCameroonismovingbeyondanassumptionthatorganisationalchangealonewillproducepositivechangeinpeople’slives.Rather,wearestartingwithpeopleandlookingfromtheirperspectivetomakeimprovementsacrosstheservicedeliveryspectrum.

Ourstrategydesignprocessstartedwithconfirmingruralwomenasourtargetgroupandthenidentifyingthegeographieswheretheyweremostmarginalised.Throughconversationsandfeedbackfromwomen’sgroupsandpartners,interventionswerethendesignedbasedontheprioritiestheyidentified.Thisgaveusaclearfocus.NootheragencyworkinginCameroonoperatesinthisway.

VSOCameroonhasastrongreputationforprovidingskilledprofessionalstobuildorganisationalcapacityandsupporteffectiveservicedelivery.Ournewapproachprovidesourpartnerswithacomplementary,multi-disciplinaryteamofvolunteerswitharangeoftechnicalexpertiserelatedtotheissuesconfrontingruralwomen.

VSO in Cameroon Our focus

VSOCameroon’sgoalistoincreasethepowerofdisadvantagedwomentodemandandaccessgrowth-orientedeconomicopportunitiesandqualityeducationandhealthservices.

Objective 1: Women’s decision-makingTo increase women’s participation in decision-making within the household and wider community.Keyactivities:• Supportgrassrootsawareness-

raisingongender,inheritanceandpropertyrightsandlegislation,usingparticipatorycommunicationmethods,egtheatre,participatorygenderauditsandfacilitateddiscussion.

• Promoteadvocacycampaignstoraiseawarenessofwomen’srightsandvoice,includingengagementwiththemedia(eginfluencingcontentofradiodramas).

• Supportnetworksofwomeninpositionsofleadershipandpromotepositivemaleandfemalerolemodels.

• Supporttheenforcementoflegislationonkeyissuesforwomen,includingpropertyrights,inheritance,birthcertificates,IDcards,andmarriageregistration(includingthecontinuationandnationwideexpansionofLawClinic).

• Promoteadvocacytoincreasewomen’spowerindecision-makingoneducation,healthorlivelihoodsfollowingstructuredresearchandconsultation.

• Conductresearchintobarriersfacingwomenwithdisabilitiesandmentalillnessparticipatingindecision-makingprocessesregardingeducation,livelihoodsandhealth.

• Providetargetedorganisational/institutionaldevelopmentsupporttoincreasethecapacityofcivilsocietyorganisationsandcouncilstoempowerwomentoparticipateindecision-making.

Chad

RCA

Nigeria

Equitaorial Guinea

Gabon Congo

Li�oral

SouthWest

Centre

Yaounde

West

NorthWest

Adamawa

South

East

Far North

North

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VSOCameroonStrategy2015-16

Keyactivities:• Buildwomen’sknowledgebaseand

skillstomanagetheirhealthandthatoftheirfamilies.

• Supportinclusionofwomen’sorganisationmembersinsocialauditingofhealthcareservices.

• Supportandtrainexistingcommunityhealthfocalpoints/communityrelayagents.

• SupportcommunityhealthproviderstomainstreamHIVandAIDSawarenessintheirserviceprovision.

• Providetargetedorganisationaldevelopmentsupportinordertoincreasethecapacityofhealthproviderstoimprovematernalhealthoutcomes.

• Traintraditionalbirthattendants.• Supportnationalcurriculum

developmentformidwiferytraining–trainingthetrainersindeliveringthenewcurriculumandincreasingpracticalexperience.

Objective 2: Women’s healthTo empower women to take informed control of their own health, and demand increased access to better quality maternal health provision.

Objective 3: Women’s economic powerTo increase women’s economic power through enhanced business development, improved business management skills, and access to markets and financial services.Keyactivities:• Supporttrainingandmentoringfor

womenentrepreneursinbuildingfinancialliteracy,businessandfinancialmanagement,understandingmicrofinanceinstitution(MFI)servicesandidentifyingmarketopportunities.

• Supportparticipatorycommunityassessmentofskillsandskillsdeficit,marketaccess,trainingopportunitiesandunderstandingvaluechains.

• Supporttrainingandmentoringforwomenentrepreneursinagriculturaltechniques,includingclimatechangeadaptationstrategies(egirrigation,watermanagement,anderosionprevention),storage,processing,andtransportation.

• Supportthecreationormanagementofnetworksofwomen’sassociationstopromoteandfacilitatelearningandbuildingeconomiesofscale.

• Buildbusinesspartnershipstoengagementors,coachesandrolemodelstoshareexpertiseandencouragebuildingeconomiesofscale.

• CreatelinkageswithMFIsinordertoenablewomentoaccessservices.

• Engageincommunityawareness-raising,includingparticipatorycommunicationmethods,forthepotentialofwomenasentrepreneurs.

• BringkeystakeholdersintheModelForestsProjecttogethertodevelopandadoptpolicies,systemsandprocessesthatensuregreaterparticipationofallstakeholdersintheconservation,managementandsustainableuseofforestresources.

• Providetargetedorganisationaldevelopmentsupporttoincreasethecapacityoforganisationsprovidingbusinessdevelopmentsupporttodelivereffectiveservicestowomen.

• Supportmotherteachersassociations(MTAs)toencouragegirls’enrolment,retentionandcompletionofprimaryschoolandtheirentryintosecondaryschool,includingactionincommunitiespromotingthevalueofeducation.

• Supportawareness-raisingabouttheimportanceofbirthcertificatesandinitiativestodeliverthem.

• SupporttheengagementofMTAsinsocialauditingofeducationservices,includingmonitoringresourceallocationbymayorsandinspectorates.

• Trainandsupportcommunity-levelliteracytrainerstoenhancetheliteracyskillsoflocalwomen.

• Promotegenderawarenessinschoolsandeducationalmanagementoffices,includingpositiveattitudesongirls’safetyintheschoolenvironment.

• Promotetheinvolvementofgirlsandboysinschoolplanningprocessesandtheproductionofeducativematerials.

• Promotedatacollectioninschoolstrackinggenderinclusion,retention,datesofbirthandenrolmentintofurthereducationandfollow-upaction.

• Promoteidentificationandmonitoringof‘childreninneed’aswellasmentoringandrolemodellingforsecondaryentryforgirls.

• ProvidetargetedorganisationaldevelopmentsupportinordertoincreasethecapacityofMTAs,councils,inspectoratesandcivilsocietyorganisationstoimprovetheprovisionofeducationforwomenandgirls.

Objective 4: Education for women and girlsTo support formal and informal education for women and girls through enhancing inclusive education communities and adult literacy programmes.

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Werecogniseclimatechangeasacross-cuttingchallengecreatinglivelihood,andsubsequenthealthchallenges,forthewomenweseektoserve.Increasesintemperatureanddecliningprecipitationthreatenagriculturallivelihoods.Ithasbeensuggestedthatanincreaseinglobaltemperature,intheabsence ofirrigationandotheradaptationoptions,couldleadtoalmosta46%lossinCameroon’scropoutput. Thisisparticularlyevidentintheextremenorthwheredesertificationanddroughtcompromise sustainabledevelopment.

ThisincreasestheurgencyforVSOCameroonandourpartnerstotakeanholisticapproachtolivelihoods—wemustfindwaystodiversifyincomesourcesandimplementtargeted,localagriculturaladaptationstohelpdecreasevulnerability.

AsthevoiceofwomeniscoretotheVSOCameroonprogramme,weworkwithdiversepartnerswhoaremakingactiveeffortstoempowermarginalisedwomentoparticipateintheirprogrammes.Ourflexibleapproachallowsustoeffectivelymanagepartnerships,andtorespondquicklyandfocusonareaswherewecanbestcontributetochangesforwomen.

Partnersaredrawnfromarangeofcivilsocietyorganisations,localcouncils,governmentagenciesandgrassrootsorganisations.Theselectionisbasedonthecorrelationofthepotentialpartner’sobjectivesandprojectsandVSOCameroon’sobjectivetoimprovethelivesofwomenandgirls.

Municipalcouncilsandrelevantstateinstitutionsengagewithcommunitiesandencouragecommunitymobilisation.We

workwithwomen’sgroupstohelptheirmembersunderstandtheirrightsandtoengagethemindecision-makingincouncils,schools,healthcentresandwithintheirownhouseholds.

Civilsocietyorganisationsworkingtoempowerwomenthroughimprovedlivelihoods,educationorknowledgeandskillstoincreasetheirparticipationindecision-makingarealsokeypartners.

Volunteersalsoworkdirectlywithwomen-ledgrassrootsgroups,suchascommoninitiativegroups,registered‘njangi’or‘tontine’savingsandloangroupsandAdassé(women’ssolidaritygroups).Inaddition,wewillcontinuetoexpandourworkwiththevariouswomens’groups,networksandplatformsthatarepartoftheModelForestsregions.

Climate change

Partnership: the way we work

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VSOCameroon’sstrategicpartnershipsprovidethecapacitytofullyimplementthisstrategy.Theyinclude:• InternationalModelForestNetwork(IMFN)andCusoInternationaltosupporttheAfricanModelForestNetwork(AMFN)strategyworkingintheCongoBasinForestareas.Themodelforestprocessenhancesmultistakeholdercollaboration,enhancingcommunity-leveleconomicindependencewhilstmitigatingenvironmentaldegradation.

•UNICEFandtheMinistryofBasicEducationtopromotebirthcertificatesandgirls’education.

•MinistryofHealthandMidwiferyTrainingCentres,theEuropeanUnion(EU)andGermanAgencyforInternationalCooperation(GIZ)topromotematernalhealth.

•VSOCameroonisalsopartoftheGenderEqualityWorkGroupandthegendersub-committeeoftheMulti-DonorCommittee.Wealsoworkwithothermembersonwomen’svoice.

AccountabilityOuraccountabilitytopartnersisfoundedonindividualpartnershipagreementssettingoutprocessesthatarefollowed.Thereisfull,transparentdisclosureofallpolicyandprocessdocuments,supportedbyclearrelationshipmanagement.Partnershipselectionandreviewaredefinedinapolicydocumentthatisavailabletopotentialandexistingpartners.Aleafletisavailabletoexplainourwaysofworking.PotentialpartnersthatapplytoVSOCameroonaresubjecttoanongoingassessmentprocess,involvingVSOCameroonstaff,volunteersandrepresentativesfrompartners.Allpotentialpartnersreceiveclearcommunicationontheoutcomeoftheirapplication.Partnershipagreementsclearlydefinetheobjectivesandindicatorsagainstwhichprogressismeasured,theprocessforjointlyreviewingprogressandsetoutthepossibleoutcomesofthereviewprocess.

PartnershipoutcomesareassessedvigorouslytoensurethebestuseofVSOCameroon’sresources.Akeyaspectofpartnershipsisregularjointreviews,eitherattheendofeachshort-termprojectoratsetintervals.Thestructureofthesereviewswillrequirepartnerstoinputsupportingdocumentationandparticipateinadiscussiontoreachaconcludingassessmentofthepartnership.Thesemeetingsprovideanopportunitytoagreetomodifyanyaspectsthatarenotworkingforeitherpartnerortoreflectchangingcircumstances.CrucialtoVSOCameroonbeingaccountabletoitspartnersisthatclearprocessesaredefined,sharedandunderstoodbyallandactuallyfollowed.Ourstaffandvolunteerscontributetoachievingthisaccountabilityandlastingimpactbydefiningrolesandresponsibilities,andrelatedperformancemanagement.

VSOCameroonbelievesthattargetingruralwomenisthemostcost-effectiveandstrategicmeansofaddressingpovertyissuesinthelong-term.Weaimtoincreasetheabilityofcommunitiesthemselvestosupporttheirmostvulnerablemembers.VSO

Cameroonmakesspecificeffortstoincludewomenwiththeleastpower–thosethatareethnicallymarginalisedorsufferingfromphysicaldisabilitiesandmentalillnesses.Genderisattheheartofallinterventionsinhealth,educationandlivelihoods.Specialemphasisisplacedonamplifyingwomen’svoicesthroughadvocacyandfacilitatingtheirinvolvementindecision-makingprocesses.

VSOCameroon’svisionisthatthroughtheinterventionofskilledandprofessionalinternationalandnationalvolunteers,wewillseethefollowing:Impact on women’s participation in decision-makingWomenwill:• influencedecision-makinginthehousehold•participateinpoliticaldecision-makingprocesses•exercisetheirrights(wealsoaimtochangemen’sattitudestowardswomenindecision-makingforthebetter).

Impact on women’s health• reducedmaternalmortality• improvedmaternalhealthcare• goodpracticeinpreventativeandreproductivehealth• increaseintheexercisingofrightstohealthcare• reduceinfantmortality.

Impact on women’s economic powerWomenwill:• haveneworbiggerbusinesses•havemorecontroloverassets•useimprovedbusinessskills•bemoreeconomicallyindependent•havebetteraccesstomarkets,financialservicesandvocationalskillstraining.

Impact on women’s education•moregirlsenrolledinprimaryandsecondaryschool• effectiveandresponsiveeducationmanagement• increasedfunctionalliteracyandnumeracyskillsforwomen•MTAs,inspectorsandcouncilsworkingtogethertoimproveaccesstoeducationforgirls

• schoolsactivelypromotegirls’participation.

Theimpactineachoftheseareasreinforcesimpactsinotherareas.TheintegratedprogrammewillhelpVSOCameroontosupportthispositivecycle.Womenwhoarebettereducatedwillbemoreabletomaketheirvoicesheard.Womenwithgreatereconomicpowerwillbebetterabletosendtheirchildrentoschoolandtomeetthehealthcareneedsoftheirfamilies.Womenparticipatingindecision-makingarebetterabletoensuretheirneedsaretakenintoaccountinhealthandeducationprovision.

Joint programming and alliances

PublishedJuly2012

VSO CameroonPostaladdress:BP25127–Messa,YaoundéCameroon

Locationaddress:BastosYaoundéCameroon

T +23722217607F +23722207351

[email protected]

VSO InternationalCarltonHouse,27aCarltonDriveLondonSW152BS,UKT +44(0)2087807500 www.vsointernational.org

VSO Cameroon strategy 2012-15

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