ABOUT INITIATIVE FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Initiative for Community Development (ICD) was founded to respond to the urgent needs of displaced individuals in Cameroon’s Southwest region to aid those whose lives have been disrupted by conflict. The ongoing crisis in this region has led to more than 1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) including more than 600,000 children deprived of regular schooling across both the Northwest and Southwest, where access to food, healthcare, and education is severely limited. The conflict has severely disrupted the local economy, shut down essential services, and increased poverty and hunger.  By 2023, more than 3,000 schools were closed due to violence, with over 40% of education facilities still nonfunctional. Children, especially girls, face significant barriers to education and safety, often becoming vulnerable to forced labor, exploitation, and early marriage. Livelihoods have also suffered enormously as farmers abandoned their lands, leading to widespread hunger. Many families now struggle to meet daily food needs, with a substantial rise in food insecurity in crisis-hit areas.

Our organization exists to bridge these gaps by providing essential learning materials and support and programs aimed at building resilience and self-reliance. Through our dedicated team, we work to restore dignity and hope for displaced families, enabling them to rebuild their lives by restoring livelihoods, and supporting women and girls at risk of gender-based violence. Through education, psychosocial services, and sustainable economic support and with greater opportunity for the future. ICD exists to bring stability, resilience, and hope to those affected by this crisis.