A New Chapter: DAREM’s UNFPA-Supported Project
We are thrilled to announce that DAREM has been awarded a grant from UNFPA to implement the project “Leveraging the Potential of Women and Girls for Peace Consolidation Towards Empowerment and Protection from Gender-Based Violence (GBV).”
At DAREM, we have localized this initiative under the theme:
“From Margins to Mainstream: Building Resilience Amongst Indigenous Mbororo Women and Girls for Effective and Collective Action Against GBV in Bangem, South-West Region of Cameroon.”
This project will not only focus on Bangem, our immediate area of intervention, but will also extend its reach to communities across the North-West and South-West Regions of Cameroon, where women and girls continue to bear the brunt of conflict, displacement, and GBV.
Why This Project Matters
The stakes are high. Recent reports indicate that:
56% of Cameroonian women have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence (DHS, 2018).
In conflict-affected regions like the NW/SW, women and girls are at twice the risk of GBV, often compounded by displacement and lack of services (OCHA, 2023).
Despite these challenges, studies show that when women are meaningfully included in peace processes, the probability of peace lasting 15 years increases by 35% (UN Women, 2015).
It is clear: empowering women and girls is not just a matter of rights, it is a matter of peace and security
Through this initiative, DAREM and partners will:
- Foster gender equality and amplify women’s leadership by strengthening indigenous women’s voices in peacebuilding platforms.
- Implement community-based programs to support GBV survivors, ensuring access to psychosocial support, legal aid, and referral pathways.
- Create safe spaces where women and girls can access resources, build skills, and connect with peer support networks.
- Provide training and resources that equip women and girls to shape resilient and inclusive communities.
Partnerships for Impact
This project is made possible thanks to the trust and collaboration of UNFPA, GIZ, BMZ, and the European Union. Their support builds on a growing global recognition that peace, security, and development cannot be achieved without the full participation of women and girls.
We are also grateful to partner organizations and allies—including ALVF, Global Fund for Women, whose commitment continues to amplify local action for global impact.
From Margins to Mainstream
For too long, indigenous Mbororo women and girls have been left at the margins of decision-making and protection systems. This project seeks to change that by ensuring their voices, leadership, and resilience are recognized as central to peace and development.
By working hand in hand with communities, leaders, and survivors, we are confident that this initiative will lay the foundation for a safer, more equitable, and peaceful future in Bangem and beyond.
Together, we can move women and girls from the margins to the mainstream of peace and empowerment.
UNFPACameroun #GIZ #BMZ #EuropeanUnion #ALVF #GlobalFundforWomen #SVRI #SafeSpaces #GBVPrevention #Peacebuilding #Darem
