To combat vulnerability: Minister unveils plan to set up National Solidarity Fund.

The minister made the announcement in Yaounde, Wednesday January 22. This was during a ceremony to launch activities to mark the 8th edition of the National Solidarity and Social Entrepreneurship Week, SESES. The week which began January 21, will end January 28. 

This year’s commemoration is holding under the theme: “The social protection of internally displaced persons and refugees in Cameroon”.

Speaking during the event, Minister Irène Nguene revealed that instructions to create the fund came from the Prime Minister, Head of Government. 

She expressed satisfaction and gratitude to partners and collaborators for their engagement and support to the project, which she said illustrates government's ambition to combat social inequalities and promote inclusive development. 

The minister noted that many observers have agreed that the achievement rate of the Sustainable Development Goals is low hence the inclusion of social policies in development frameworks. She said the fight against vulnerability are strategies for accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, which calls for leaving no one behind.

She added that at the national level, the implementation of the National Development Strategy, NDS30, is also facing implementation challenges as recent studies have shown that while Cameroon's economy has proved resilient in the face of endogenous and exogenous shocks, poverty persists and households are increasingly vulnerable. 

“To this extent, the establishment of a National Solidarity Fund would appear to be a major reform in terms of social protection, aimed specifically at addressing the social aspects of sustainable development,” Minister Irène Nguene stated. 

She reiterated that the initiative would be designed to provide sustainable solutions to persistent vulnerabilities, as well as make investments with a high social impact, by financing programmes and projects for the socio-economic integration and empowerment of vulnerable groups.

Irène Nguene urged her collaborators to begin feasibility on the areas of intervention of the fund and to determine objectively the beneficiary social groups, as well as carry out exploratory studies to ensure that the fund will be sustained over the long term.

Partners laud initiative, offer support

On his part, the Resident Coordinator of United Nations Systems in Cameroon, Issa Sanogo, congratulated government for setting up a national solidarity fund. 

“It is my understanding that it is a priority which has been instructed by the Prime Minister’s Office, together with the government to ensure that such a fund is in place. Today was to get ideas of what the fund consists of. I was pleased to see that the fund aims to be inclusive, equitable and durable,” Sanogo stated. 

According to Sanogo, inclusivity means the fund targets vulnerable populations including displaced persons, those affected by natural disasters and crisis as well as structural vulnerable persons like handicaps. 

He said with the UN, being a partner to government, its aim is to see a Cameroon that is just and inclusive, and where vulnerable persons are part of the sustainable development of Cameroon.

“We are here to support the idea of setting up the fund. It is a great idea because it is about inclusivity, equity and leaving no one behind. Today was just the preliminary findings and we will endeavour to support the government in the setting up of the fund,” Sanogo underscored.

On her part, the Senior Protection Officer, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, Felicité Koko Botti, reiterated that the fund will help refugees have a better life.

She said it will enable them have access to education, food health and even assist in making them relevant documents and permits for work and stay.

About SESES

According to the Ministry of Social Affairs, MINAS, the National Solidarity and Social Entrepreneurship Week, SESES provides a platform for exchanges, meetings and reflections showcasing the assets and potential of socially vulnerable people while seeking sustainable solutions for their socio-economic integration and empowerment.

Through SESES, the Ministry of Social Affairs seeks to facilitate access to productive resources for individuals and groups with specific vulnerabilities through community mobilisation and partnerships. 

The 2025 edition has as objectives to train social workers in the international protection of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, as well as disseminate the relevant provisions of international humanitarian law relating to refugees and IDPs, among others. 

This, as per the ministry will be done through institutional development activities such as workshops, conferences and strategy meetings.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3348 of Friday January 24, 2025