Economic empowerment of indigenous women groups in Yaoundé and Mandjou
Donor: Global Fund for Women
Year of Grant Award: 2022
Target Areas: Yaoundé (Centre Region), Mandjou (East Region), and Didango (Adamawa Region), Cameroon
Primary Beneficiaries: Indigenous Mbororo women and girls
This project aimed to strengthen the institutional capacity of AIWO-CAN while promoting the economic empowerment, climate resilience, and skills development of Indigenous Mbororo women and girls. It responded to structural inequalities affecting Indigenous women, including limited access to income, high dependency on men, environmental degradation, and heightened vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A key component of the project focused on economic empowerment. Thirty Indigenous women and girls in Yaoundé were trained in entrepreneurship and business management, including market analysis, bookkeeping, and cost estimation. Following the training, participants received start-up materials tailored to their chosen activities, such as refrigerators, food supplies, soap production inputs, and sewing materials. These initiatives enabled women to establish and manage small businesses, generating income and improving their financial autonomy.
The project also addressed climate change adaptation and mitigation through capacity-building activities in Yaoundé and Mandjou. A total of 150 Indigenous women and girls were sensitized on climate change causes, impacts, and adaptation strategies. They were trained to produce and use improved clay stoves and fireless cooking bags, significantly reducing household wood consumption by up to 70%, decreasing deforestation, lowering energy costs, and improving health conditions by reducing smoke exposure.
In Mandjou, the project supported vocational skills development through the establishment of a tailoring workshop equipped with ten sewing machines. This initiative created opportunities for women and girls to acquire professional skills, enhance employability, and strengthen long-term economic independence. Additional support was provided to women in Didango to construct a workshop for tailoring activities.
Finally, the grant contributed to institutional strengthening by supporting AIWO-CAN’s operational costs and improving financial management systems. Overall, the project enhanced women’s resilience, strengthened community livelihoods, and reinforced AIWO-CAN’s capacity to advance Indigenous women’s rights and empowerment.
