Boosting climate resilence, economic empowerment: IPSD-Cameroon empowers Mbororo women on local products transformation.

The training was organised by Indigenous Peoples and Sustainable Development Association, IPSD-Cameroon. It is part of the implementation of resolutions of the first Subregional Forum of Central African Indigenous Women in 2023 which focused on direct access to finance for indigenous women.

The three-day capacity-building was organized with support from the Community Land Rights and Conservation Finance Initiative, CLARIFI/RRI. 

According to IPSD-Cameroon President, Balkisou Buba, Mbororo women and girls live on pastoralism and are susceptible to domestic and economic violence as well as other vulnerabilities at the home front and from society in general.

“That is why the project climate resilience and economic empowerment of the indigenous Mbororo women is out to foster economic empowerment of women and girls through a training on the creation and management of businesses, branding and marketing of products,” she said. 

During the three-days intense sessions, the indigenous women were equipped on how to produce local products that can earn them financial gains and help curb household costs.

They were trained to produce liquid and solid soap, vaseline, lip balms and the transformation of local products like soya beans into soya beef, milk into yoghurt, and others.

“The women were very happy with the skills gained and materials and promised to make good use of the skills to generate income for themselves and their families for financial autonomy,” Balkisou told The Guardian Post.

In bid to ensure the knowledge gained during the three-days training in translated into viable economic ventures, they were handed over some materials for their empowerment, and self-reliant and financial autonomy. 

The workshop was also marked by the donation of school materials to some 40 indigenous girls and boys as part of IPSD-Cameroon efforts to promote education. 

“The school children were reminded on the importance of education especially for the girl child,” she further told The Guardian Post.

It is worthy of noting that the IPSD-Cameroon is advocating for indigenous rights and sustainable development for indigenous communities in the country.

It advocates for the voices of indigenous peoples to be heard, particularly in discussions about funding for indigenous communities and the importance of human and land rights for climate solutions. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3569 of Friday September 19, 2025