Context
Around 43 per cent of Cameroon is covered in forest. The country is part of the Congo Basin, the world’s second-largest region of tropical forest, which plays a vital role for the climate, species diversity and the provision of essential local resources, such as food, medicine and building materials. Certain groups, such as women and indigenous peoples, are more dependent on the natural resources than others. At the same time, the country has one of the highest deforestation rates by international standards. This is due to an expansion in agriculture, illegal logging, mining, weak enforcement of legislation, and corruption.
An additional structural factor, however, is the inadequate coordination between the National Development Strategy 2020-2030 (NDS30), and the strategies of the regional governments and relevant ministries – i.e. the ministries responsible for forestry, the environment, mining and agriculture.
Objective
Coordination between the ministries responsible and local administrations has improved. In addition, a long-term partnership has been established between Cameroon and the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI), focusing on a green economy.
Approach
The project supports the Cameroonian Government by:
• promoting coordinated planning and decision-making processes between ministries and the administration
• developing gender-sensitive investment projects to counter deforestation for the partnership between Cameroon and CAFI; these projects help to reduce existing gender imbalances rather than reinforcing them
• producing gender-sensitive and environmentally friendly NDS30 plans.