UNITED NATIONS GIRLS EDUCATION INITIATIVE

Cameroon is a country afflicted by pervasive poverty and rising infant and under-five mortality rates.  Some 51 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line and poverty has an increasingly feminine face as it affects women more than men.

Barriers to Girls’ Education

• Poverty of parents
• Early marriage and pregnancy
• Low status of women in Society

UNGEI in Action

UNGEI has been initiated and there is an ongoing process of creating a country specific initiative known as CAMGEN (Cameroon Girls’ Education Network).

The aim of the partnership is to sensitize parents and the communities of the importance of girls’ education, purchase and distribute learning materials/equipment to support schools and train teachers.

The partnership’s priorities will include strong advocacy, social mobilization and provision of essential learning materials and equipment.

Partnership

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Bank, United Nations Population Fund  (UNFPA), World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ministry of Education

UNGEI within other National and International Frameworks

Cameroon is one of the “25 by 2005” acceleration countries and Sector Wide Approaches (SWAPs), Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), Common country Assessment/United Nations Development Assistance Framework (CCA/UNDAF) process exists at the national level.