From Displacement to Empowerment: How an IDP turned innovation into jobs with Fertilizer and Bio-agriculture.

Mr. Nkemafa Godwill Fombuwing (Stone farm), a 34-year internally displaced person (IDP) residing in the municipality of Dschang, is an industrious and visionary entrepreneur. After fleeing the armed conflict in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon, he arrived in Dschang with a simple yet ambitious dream to create a better life for himself and his community. With determination and an entrepreneurial mindset, he started a small-scale business producing organic fertilizers and running a multipurpose plant nursery. Despite his humble beginnings, he recognized the potential for growth in his business.

Faced with limited resources and a lack of managerial and marketing skills, Mr. Nkemafa viewed the incubation program organized by the project as an opportunity to acquire the necessary tools and knowledge to transform his small enterprise into a structured, scalable business.

He was selected for an incubation program organized by the project and received intensive 20-day training in entrepreneurship and business management at the University of Dschang, followed by six months of follow-up coaching to ensure the sustainability of his business. Additionally, the project provided him with a seed fund to boost his activities.

Upon completing the incubation program, Mr. Nkemafa gained invaluable skills in financial management, marketing, and leadership, equipping him to better manage and grow his business. Today, he produces organic fertilizers on a large scale and has a ready market for consumption. He has established hectares of farmland and diversified his nursery with various plant seedlings. Thanks to his enhanced networking skills, he has fostered collaborations with other entrepreneurs, attracted potential investors, and secured mentorship from the University of Dschang.

Mr. Nkemafa’s business has not only grown, but it has also created employment opportunities. He currently employs seven permanent workers, a number of students for internship programs, and temporary workers as needed.

"The incubation program was a turning point for me, transforming my organic fertilizer business into a formal, thriving enterprise. It empowered me with the tools, knowledge, and support needed to expand my business."