Yaounde - On August 20, 2024, the National Disarmament Demobilization, and Reintegration Committee (NDDRC) received strategic training on gender at its office in Yaounde. The main objective of this training was to enhance the capacity of NDDRC staff to integrate gender considerations into national DDR processes. This workshop is part of the GYPI project intitled « Enhancing Women's Meaningful Involvement in DDR Policy Design and Implementation in Cameroon Based on the National DDR Gender Strategy 2021-25: Strengthening Platforms for Women's Associations», funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with UN Women and other local partners.

The NDDRC, responsible for coordinating the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) process in Cameroon, strives to more effectively incorporate gender considerations into its policies and practices.

During this training day, participants explored best practices to ensure adequate consideration of gender, while discussing the challenges faced and solutions to be implemented. The discussions highlighted the importance of an inclusive and gender-sensitive approach to guarantee the effectiveness and equity of DDR interventions. Key recommendations included further promoting women's empowerment, improving community awareness, and strengthening collaboration between the NDDRC and civil society organizations.

The positive impacts of this training will be significant not only for the women directly involved but also for Cameroonian society as a whole. Better integration of women in DDR processes will foster a fairer and more inclusive reintegration, thereby contributing to stability and social cohesion in the region. Enhancing the NDDRC's capacity on gender marks an important step towards more effective and sustainable reintegration of former combatants and affected communities.

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For further information, please contact:

• Dahlia EZEKWONNA, IOM Cameroon, dezekwonna@iom.int
• Pascale ESSAMA, IOM Cameroon, pessama@iom.int