‘Search for Common Ground’ promotes women’s inclusion for new security

The Women’s Inclusion for New Security (SHE WINS) project that has been on for about three years is gradually coming to an end. A close out workshop to that effect took place in Yaounde on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.

“Today we are celebrating the activities that Search for Common Ground has been carrying out on the field and we are also talking about perspectives,” says Mrs Tatiana Lobe, Country Representative, Search for Common Ground.

The close out workshop was chaired by the Littoral regional delegate for the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Mrs Gisele Ekoh, in her capacity as the representative of the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family.

The objective was to evaluate the path covered in ensuring peace and security since the start of the project. Focus was on the two restive Anglophone regions of the country (North West and South West), including other crisis hit areas.

Speaking at the workshop, Mrs Gisele Ekoh thanked the organization Search for Common Ground for contributing to the larger objective of peace in Cameroon through the SHE WINS project which protects women’s right in conflict settings.

”Women bring new perspectives and approaches that lead to peace in the society,” Gisele Ekoh said.

Also present at the close-out workshop was the Chief of the Political and Economic Section at the US Embassy, Christen Machack. According to her, the SHE WINS project was timely for the idea was to “grow and sustain leadership in women’s led organizations”.

The Us Embassy has been supporting the initiative from its start.

During the close out workshop, a detailed presentation on the project activities and outcomes was made by the project manager, Mr. Oben Emmanuel. From his presentation, it was evident that the feedback from the different women peace, and security initiatives were positive.

15 women-led organizations partnered with Search for Common Ground to design and implement peace initiatives all over the country. The idea was to ensure women’s safety and participation in decision making processes.

“We gave them capacity building skills in terms of trauma healing, tracing Gender Based Violence – GBV, and many others,” says Mrs Tatiana Lobe.

Close to 6,000 beneficiaries, mainly women were recorded throughout the project according to Mr Oben Emmanuel.

“Most of the partner organizations received small grants to run their respective activities.”

At the end of the project, the feedback shows women are not only included in peace initiatives but they are at the fore front. Many have promised to get involve thanks to the knowledge and assistance received from Search for Common Ground

The Women’s Inclusion for New Security project is funded by the US State Department and implemented by the international non-governmental organisation “Search for Common Ground” in partnership with 15 women led organisations in the Anglophone regions. The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family also supported the project.

While recommending that the project should be extended with assistance from the US Embassy in collaboration with other partners, she promised government’s support in its next phase.

The close out workshop that held at Djeuga Palace Hotel in Yaounde was also an occasion to introduce the women led organizations to project evaluation, context analysis and identification of priority areas for peace building.