A Fresh Start for the Municipality of Logone Birni, in the Far North Region of Cameroon

The municipality of Logone Birni, located in Cameroon’s Far North region, has been grappling with a series of social, security, and climate crises in recent years. These crises have severely affected the socio-economic development of the area.

THE LOGONE BIRNI MUNICIPALITY IN THE FACE OF GROWING INSTABILITY 

Situated in Cameroon’s Far North region, the municipality of Logone Birni, which comprises seven villages, extends along the Logone River, forming a natural border between Cameroon and Chad. This region, known for its abundant freshwater fish and agricultural produce (vegetables and rice), is home to various ethnic groups, including the Arab Choa, Kotoko, and Mousgoum. Despite its natural wealth, the socio-economic conditions of Logone Birni remain fragile due to recurring social, security, and climate crises.

The past decade has had a detrimental impact on the development of the Far North region as a whole, and Logone Birni in particular. The municipality, long troubled by intercommunal strife, experienced a peak in tensions in 2021. Clashes between communities resulted in 44 deaths, over 100 injuries, and the destruction of entire villages by fire¹. These conflicts stem from land disputes and issues concerning access to natural resources such as water and land. At the same time, the region faces climate challenges, including drought, heavy rainfall causing floods, and elephant attacks that destroy crops, reducing both the quality and quantity of harvests. The local population is thus gradually losing its means of livelihood.

Today, the effects of these crises are evident in the rising levels of child malnutrition, declining agricultural output, falling household incomes, increased vulnerability to food shortages, and heightened protection risks.

JOINING FORCES: ACTION AGAINST HUNGER AND PARTNERS SUPPORT THE MOST VULNERABLE

In response to this situation, NGOs including Action Against Hunger, the Danish Refugee Council, and their partners ASOL and Tammounde have launched a project titled “Integrated Nutrition and Protection Programme to Strengthen the Resilience of Communities Affected by the Crisis in Logone Birni” (PROSEREC-LB), funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (IADC)

The PROSEREC-LB multisectoral project aims to improve the well-being and resilience of the most vulnerable individuals affected by the complex crisis in Logone Birni by enhancing social cohesion, supporting peacebuilding efforts, and improving food and nutritional security for vulnerable households.

PROSEREC-LB aims to assist 11,680 beneficiaries, including 2,314 internally displaced persons, 8,349 members of host communities, and 1,017 refugees. Among them, 818 people with disabilities will receive special attention during the one-year programme implementation.

The project was officially launched in July 2024, in the presence of municipal executives, traditional and religious leaders, representatives of youth, women, and individuals with special needs, as well as humanitarian actors in the area. The event highlighted the commitment of all stakeholders to ensuring the success of this project.

Abakar Brahim, the Mayor of Logone Birni, pledged to increase his involvement to guarantee the project’s success. According to him, the initiative is timely, as it helps boost the morale of the entire Logone Birni population following the crisis.

Local authorities have welcomed the initiative and are calling for collective mobilisation to maximise the project’s impact, with special focus on women, children, and the most vulnerable, who are the hardest hit by poverty in the region.

Following the launch workshop, the programme teams established a beneficiary targeting committee composed of representatives of refugees, internally displaced persons, people with disabilities, and sectoral representatives. The municipal targeting committee identified eight priority localities for the project’s intervention. The local development framework has commended the inclusion of communities in the process, stating: “involving community representatives in the targeting process helps to prevent conflicts.”

A FORWARD-LOOKING COLLECTIVE EFFORT

To date, the PROSEREC-LB teams have held a framing workshop to align approaches within the consortium. Following this, Action contre la Faim and its partner Tammounde presented the project to the communities in the eight localities identified during the geographical targeting workshop. Looking ahead, the project will support 700 households with food assistance for three months and provide income-generating activities, complemented by capacity building on existing economic opportunities in Logone Birni. In this way, the project will help to improve the living conditions of the people of Logone Birni.

PROSEREC-LB is more than just a humanitarian initiative; it represents a beacon of hope for Logone Birni, a symbol of resilience and solidarity in a region under strain. With the cooperation of all stakeholders and the community’s commitment, this programme could become the catalyst for a renewal in this cherished municipality.

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¹OIM, Population Movement Analysis on Logone-Birni Crisis, may 2022)