In a giant step towards inclusivity and improved health outcomes, the Global Fund has joined forces with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to strengthen engagement strategies for key populations in Cameroon. This initiative aims to tackle the challenges facing individuals living with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, while also addressing the needs of marginalised groups such as orphans, vulnerable youths, sex workers and drug users.
Worshop session
A three-day workshop, held from December 11–13, 2024, in Yaoundé, served as a platform for participants to revise existing engagement plans and strategise for the future. Key partners included Y+ Global, CAGEAD, ReCAJ+, and other NGOs, all working collectively to amplify youth voices and enhance community involvement.
Gabriella Romero, Senior Programmes Officer for Y+ Global, emphasised the significance of youth-led initiatives under the Global Fund.
"As the only youth-led consortium, our focus is to empower young people to have a say in decisions that directly impact their lives. Translating complex information into youth-friendly formats allows them to engage effectively in these critical discussions." She said
Central to the discussions was the need to equip young leaders with the tools and resources to drive change in their communities. According to Ngongba Assumta Lum, Project Manager for CAGEAD, their project focuses on empowering young leaders while holding decision-makers accountable.
"Our project is centred on strengthening the leadership of young people living and working with HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. By generating and using data, we aim to make stakeholders accountable and ensure that global information is accessible to those who need it most," she explained.
She added that the initiative seeks to bridge the gap between decision-makers and the populations they represent.
"We are not just building capacity; we are building a future where young people are leaders in the fight against these diseases."
Representation within strategic decision-making institutions was a key theme at the workshop. Mr. Kopgnang Joel, a member of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM), highlighted the importance of youth presence in these structures.
"It is essential to support youth by being present in strategic institutions. This ensures that their voices are represented and that they can occupy their rightful places in decision-making processes." He stated
Similarly, Belobo Ayissi Joseph, an NGO representative, emphasised the need for young people to take up leadership roles in bodies like the International Coordinating Network (ICN).
"Young people must take up positions in strategic bodies like the executive office and monitoring committees. Their presence in such roles ensures their issues are not just heard but prioritised," he said.
The workshop also addressed the persistent stigma and discrimination faced by key populations, a barrier that limits access to healthcare and essential services. Participants shared strategies to combat these challenges while promoting inclusivity in decision-making processes.
Notably, this programme is not limited to Cameroon but also extends to other countries, including Ukraine and Mongolia, as part of a global effort to combat health inequalities and foster inclusive development.
The three-day workshop left participants inspired and motivated to create lasting change. The consensus was clear: engaging young people directly, rather than through representatives, is critical to achieving meaningful progress. Waah Clotilda Andiensa is the Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Advocacy in Gender Equality and Action for Development (CAGEAD) an implementing parter organisation.
"We are happy to be facilitating this engagement plan in Cameroon. The community strategic initiative aims to bring together young key populations and engage them in strengthening Cameroon’s engagement plan and global fund strategies." She states adding "It's about engaging for young key populations in collecting and analysing data that will serve as evidence in their advocacy for youth friendly policies in the area of HIV maleria and tuberculosis."
"The young key populations represented here are gathering evidence and building their capacities and understanding the global fund processes in Cameroon, especially the country Coordinating mechanism ( CCM) and ways to engage and amplify their voices in policies that affect them." She emphasised
according to Waah Clotilda, the three days helped the young people to review "the existing landscape of policies and interactions with members of CCM and have proposed strategic plan for the next few years.Their involvement was crucial because these are issues that concern them directly."
The Global Fund and its partners are setting a precedent for youth-driven leadership and inclusive development, ensuring that no voice is left unheard in the fight against these life-threatening diseases.
By Asheri Loveline with reports
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