Mbalmayo welcomes MBEAN BIDI: women and young farmers working towards sustainable agriculture and healthy eating in Cameroon – the initiative through which ARCS Culture Solidali is strengthening local agriculture, health and opportunities for women and young people in the Nyong et So’o department, in central Cameroon.

The official launch event for MBEAN BIDI (“Grow what you eat”) took place in the large hall of the SOS Children’s Village in Mbalmayo. Led by ARCS Arci Culture Solidali (lead partner) in collaboration with the CUMSE Foundation and funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the initiative will work over the next three years alongside communities in the Nyong-et-So’o department to support the transition towards more sustainable agricultural and food systems.

Why MBEAN BIDI?

In Nyong-et-So’o, agriculture is the main source of livelihood, but the region faces widespread challenges: over 10,000 people live in conditions of severe food insecurity, characterised by poor harvests, uncertain incomes for one in four families and a diet lacking in variety.

Developed following an extensive participatory analysis carried out in the field, MBEAN BIDI aims to address these vulnerabilities by placing young people and women at the heart of the processes of change within their own communities.

The event opened in a warm and friendly atmosphere thanks to the music of a local band, which gave an emotive rendition of the national anthems of Cameroon and Italy, welcoming the participants and immediately creating a formal yet inclusive atmosphere.

The ceremony got into full swing with the opening address by the Mayor of Mbalmayo, a heartfelt speech that demonstrated how the full involvement of local authorities lies at the heart of the entire project. The event was also attended by Alice Mantoani, Deputy Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) based in Niamey, who spoke highly of the care with which genuine local needs had been listened to and incorporated right from the initial drafting phase of the project, which began in 2023.

This launch conference, moderated by the Prefect of the Nyong et So’o Department, enabled all participants to gain a practical understanding of how their involvement in the initiative is designed to create the kind of synergy needed to engage the citizens of the target localities on a large scale throughout the various phases. Indeed, local communities were involved in the project’s drafting phase through focus groups in which local women smallholders actively participated to articulate the needs of the agricultural sector in the Nyong et So’o Department. Some of those women smallholders were in fact present at the event, witnessing how their valuable contribution is gradually taking shape through Mbean Bidi’s activities.

From boosting agricultural production to increasing the incomes of smallholder farmers – both men and women – and promoting healthy eating and access to safe drinking water: none of these objectives could be achieved without the genuine involvement of local institutions. The event was, in fact, an important opportunity for direct dialogue with the departmental and arrondissement delegates from the relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Agriculture (MINADER), the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (MINEPIA), the Ministry of the Environment (MINEPDED), the Ministry for the Promotion of Women and the Family (MINPROFF), the Ministry of Water and Energy (MINEE), Social Affairs (MINAS), Youth (MINJEC), Vocational Training (MINEFOP), Communication (MINCOM), Public Property and Land Affairs (MINDAF), Forests and Wildlife (MINFOF), Arts and Culture (MINAC) and the Economy, Territorial Planning and Development (MINEPAT), who provided timely answers to the questions raised, drawing on their specialist expertise.

The event was also attended by key community figures: the Sub-Prefect of Mbalmayo, the mayors of the five municipalities involved (Mbalmayo, Akoeman, Mengueme, Ngomedzap and Nkolmetet) and the traditional authorities (Majestés), reflecting the strong bond between local communities and the public administration. Also crucial was the presence of the Head of the Mbalmayo Health District, representatives from the Institute for Agricultural Research and Development (IRAD) and teams from the project partners, in particular ADD (Alternative pour le développement durable) with its CAPAM training centre, and the national director of the local NGO CIPCRE.

The meeting confirmed a shared vision and the collective commitment of all those involved. This collaboration will be essential to ensure that the young beneficiaries have access to the opportunities that the MBEAN BIDI project will roll out across the region over the course of three years.

To round off the event, a lively theatrical performance staged by young boys and girls showcased the origins of the project. Their performance highlighted how everyday challenges can be transformed into innovative agriculture, capable of harnessing the skills of the younger generations.

MBEAN BIDI is funded by Italian Development Cooperation and is implemented by ARCS (contractor) in a temporary partnership with the CUMSE Foundation (principal). The project benefits from the collaboration of a broad partnership that includes Sapienza University of Rome – Department of Environmental Biology, Azienda Agricola Eredi Carioni Francesco S.a.s., ISF-MI, the Association of African Engineers (AIA), as well as the local organisations ADD and CIPCRE.