Cameroon Gender and Environment Watch (CAMGEW) has intensified efforts to empower rural communities in Magba and Bankim, focusing on women's economic independence and climate adaptation.
Women in Magba, a subdivision in Cameroon’s West Region, face serious challenges in agriculture, including limited access to resources, a lack of market opportunities, and the effects of climate change. To address these issues, Cameroon Gender and Environment Watch (CAMGEW) has been working to strengthen women’s participation in local food value chains through cooperative organisation and capacity building.
On March 4, 2025, CAMGEW, in collaboration with the Ngounso Women Farmer Cooperative, launched the International Women’s Day celebrations for Magba Subdivision. The event brought together women from across the region to showcase their agricultural products and share knowledge. The initiative aimed to encourage networking, promote economic empowerment, and highlight the crucial role women play in food production and sustainability.
Speaking at the event, Wirsiy Emmanuel of CAMGEW emphasised the importance of collective efforts in advancing women’s economic independence. He noted that through cooperatives, women gain better access to resources, training, and markets, which enhances their livelihoods and resilience.
In a separate initiative, CAMGEW distributed 124 rabbits to 74 trained community members in Magba and Bankim, located in the West and Adamaoua Regions, respectively. The distributions took place on 2 March in Magba and 9 March in Bankim, with each beneficiary receiving two female rabbits and two kilograms of rabbit feed.
This initiative targets communities affected by the ongoing Anglophone conflict and their host populations, helping them develop sustainable livelihoods while promoting solidarity. Rabbit farming offers multiple benefits, including a source of protein through white meat and a natural fertiliser through rabbit urine, which serves as an organic pesticide.
The event in Magba was held in partnership with the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries, and Animal Industries (MINEPIA) and was attended by the Chief of Ngounso.
Community leaders expressed gratitude for CAMGEW’s intervention, emphasising how such initiatives can help alleviate food insecurity and promote economic stability.