Issue
The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in Cameroon, coupled with the Boko Haram attacks and the Anglophone crisis, have reduced space for people to speak out, organise and take action against poverty, health inequality and injustice.
How we are helping
This project will strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations (CSOs) to engage with government to inform a more inclusive response to the Covid-19 pandemic and contribute to an improved health service delivery.
About the project
Civic space provides an opportunity for citizens to raise their voices, to express and act on their interests and ideas, to navigate tensions and differences and to find commonalities. It is a vital ingredient for any strategy to protect national security, to foster development or to preserve social harmony.
Working with local civil society organisations and individuals in Cameroon, PARDO experiences the effects of shrinking and shifting civic space which threatens progress on poverty reduction, rights-based development, the right to be heard and the right to essential services.
PARDO and its partners have observed capacity gaps among CSOs working in social accountability especially in the areas of healthcare delivery, procurement procedures, knowledge of human rights-based approaches to development, citizen-centred advocacy and systematic monitoring.
This project aims to contribute to an improved health service delivery by strengthening civil society participation in the national response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This will be achieved by:
- Strengthening the capacity of CSOs by assessing organisational capacity, mentoring and providing learning opportunities.
- Training CSOs and community health service providers in community development, service delivery, human rights, advocacy and any further identified needs.
- Supporting CSOs to constructively engage with government on the development and implementation of policies and plans to respond to the pandemic. Raising awareness of the role of civil society in development, accountable governance and democracy.
- Conducting advocacy and awareness raising to improve public access to relevant information on the pandemic and available support.
- Strengthening linkages and networks between CSOs to enhance their influence, share learning, enable collective action and access resources.
- Building an evidence base for a common framework for community empowerment among development partners, civil society and government.
- Conducting advocacy initiatives to influence a legal and policy framework conducive to the growth of a vibrant civil society in Cameroon.
- Strengthening linkages with key stakeholders for effective shared learning on rights-based programming and social accountability.
Project Partners
Partners for Relief and Development Organisation (PARDO) create partnerships and contribute to sustainable socio-economic development for vulnerable groups communities in Cameroon through community engagement, capacity building, advocacy, relief, and institutional strengthening at the grassroot, regional and national levels. They achieve this by fostering sustainable development through community development and humanitarian initiatives that alleviate poverty, improve lives, raise living standards, and impact positive social transformation. PARDO is experienced in promoting good economic governance for the betterment of economically and socially excluded Cameroonians. PARDO strives to promote transparency and accountability, integrity, empathy and empowering societies to know, exercise and claim their economic rights.
We support people's participation in democracy and development by providing grants, platforms, and expertise.
