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Nascent Partners With World Food Program in Cameroon

Fleeing civil conflict, violence and persecution tens of thousands of refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR) have sought sanctuary in Cameroon’s East and Adamawa Provinces, since 2005. Numbering over 80,000, this massive influx has put a strain on the already meager resources of the regions assisting them, creating a grave resource crisis, particularly impacting the productivity of farmland and pasture.

In September 2011, Nascent Solutions signed a partnership agreement with the World Food Program (WFP) Cameroon to provide food aid and agricultural training to refugees from the Central African Republic (and their local hosts in the Eastern Region of Cameroon. Nascent will be responsible for handling, transportation and delivery of critically needed food aid to CAR refugees, of whom over 11% are malnourished and the majority living below the poverty level for Cameroon.

Nascent will also work directly with local communities to improve the productivity of degraded pasture and farmland by implementing the planting of pasture tree and shrub species and utilizing effective methods to remove invasive noxious plants. Intrusion barriers will be established and constructed by the local population to prevent farming disruption by grazing animals under supervision of Nascent staff. A multi-pronged approach to address farm and pastoral productivity as well as training the local population will greatly increase food security and the quality of life for the refugees and indigenes.

Since its inception in 2004, Nascent Solutions has had a significant impact on the lives of children and women in over 100 villages in the Bui and Donga Mantung Divisions of the North West Region of Cameroon; with the supply of medical equipment to support health and medical professionals in rural health centers, educational materials for primary and secondary education, food aid for orphans and other vulnerable children, a school feeding program as well as training and material support in agriculture and nutrition. Nascent’s new partnership with the WFP allows it to expand into regions in which its analysis have determined a critical need and an opportunity to improve the lives of many with the resources, experience and technical ability the organization provides.

This pilot program begins November 1, 2011, in the Kadey Division of the Eastern Region, and is being implemented with a strong team of five in collaboration with the ministries of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, (MINEPIA), Agriculture (MINAGRI) as well as the Catholic charity CARITAS.