Special Reconstruction and Development Program for the Far North Region: IOM demonstrates its expertise

Maroua – On 23 April 2024, the stakeholder consultation workshop on the implementation and consolidation of interventions planned as part of the implementation of the Special Program for the Reconstruction and Development of the Far North Region (PSRDREN) was held on 1 and 2 April 2024 in Maroua. Initiated by the PSRDREN, the meeting was attended by all the region’s development programs, government departments, humanitarian actors and United Nations agencies. Its aim was to mobilize all the players to ensure that resources and interventions converged. The participants, led by Mr Midjiyawa Bakari, Governor of the Far North region, also discussed the implementation and monitoring of the program, carried out a diagnosis of the program’s strategy and consolidated the actions of the stakeholders. This was an opportunity for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to demonstrate its commitment and expertise in reconstruction and development in this region.

The presentations made during the workshop highlighted the missions, components, geographical framework, management bodies, issues and challenges of the PSRDREN, as well as the coordination and monitoring tools and mechanisms. The exchanges and discussions highlighted areas for improvement, including the clear definition of targets and indicators, the inclusion of all stakeholders in the creation of the regional coordination and monitoring committee, and the need to formulate disaggregated and measurable indicators for all impacts, including those relating to climate change.

IOM’s active presence at the workshop was marked by a presentation given by Mr Adder Abel Gwoda, Head of the Demobilization, Disassociation, Reintegration and Reconciliation (DDRR) program. He highlighted IOM’s Nexus strategy and its expertise in taking account of migrants in general, and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in particular, in humanitarian, development and peacebuilding projects and programs.

IOM showcased its expertise in the areas of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), DDRR, community-based planning, shelter and non-food items. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of including ex-associates in the implementation of projects to promote lasting peace in reintegration areas. This inclusive approach was welcomed by the assembly, underlining the importance of taking into consideration the specific needs of the populations affected by the security crisis, climate change and extreme precariousness that characterize the Far North region.

Particular emphasis was placed on psychosocial aspects of reconstruction, recognizing the impact of trauma and post-traumatic stress on local populations. This holistic approach was presented as essential to support the Special Program for the Reconstruction and Development of the Far North Region in its mission of sustainable reconstruction.

Some participants also stressed the importance of peacebuilding activities, highlighting IOM’s Peace through Health initiative, which uses local health Committees as levers for peacebuilding. This innovative approach was presented as a concrete example of IOM’s peacebuilding activities in the region.

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For more information, please contact:

• Adder Abel Gwoda, IOM Cameroon, Tel: 691651026, Email: agwoda@iom.int
• Elodie Ndeme Bodolo, IOM Cameroon, Tel: 691638957, Email: endeme@iom.int