For over 20 years MBoscuda has been promoting the importance of education to our rural communities.

Not only have we supplied teaching materials and equipment but we have built 5 schools in the North-West province.  Fundamental to this initiative has been the renewed value of education that the community now feels which is helping us to advocate for the government to build more schools and support the community schools already in place.

MBoscuda works with communities to enable them to understand how their Islamic faith can help support the development initiatives that they are involved in.

We have formed Religio-cultural committees in all of the division of the North-West province which has actively involved 45 Islamic clerics.  These forums have been used to create awareness of Islam and good practice.

Through our project ‘In Search of Common Ground’ we trained 760 community members in conflict mediation and established 19 dialogue platforms where they could utilise these newly acquired skills to restore and maintain peaceful relations with their neighbours.

Our initiatives encourage grazers and farmers to work together to find sustainable ways to use the land for the benefit of both communities.

Through our project ‘In Search of Common Ground’ we have developed 58 alliance farming pairs meaning that the number of households taking up alliance farming has increased by 5% and that the number of households taking up improved pasture techniques has increased by 19% due to our work in this area. 

As part of our project ‘In Search of Common Ground’ we have enabled the MBororo grazers and the farmers, who they have previously been in conflict with, to improve their use of natural resources through Alliance Farming.

Alliance farming has been promoted as a way to improve crop yield, cattle health and through collaboration between farmers and grazers and we have seen a gradual take up of sustainable and shared agricultural practices. In particular the use of improved pasture as an alternative to cattle feed source which has increased significantly. 

The measures that this project have encouraged over the past three years have improved the sustainable practices of different groups within the community including:

• The number of households taking up alliance farming and the number of households taking up improved pasture techniques increased over the life of the project. Almost all of the farmer household who engaged in alliance farming have reported improved crop yields and the grazer households engaged in alliance farming report improved cattle health.
• The proportion of grazers who have adopted the use of improved pasture increased by over 20%.

Our projects rehabilitate or construct communal water points.

In 2016 we provided over 45,000 people (herders and croppers) with access to safe water and trained 9 Water Management Committees to ensure the equitable and efficient management of the improved water points.

Through our project ‘In Search of Common Ground’ we have increased the knowledge of our communities about the prevention of water pollution and the usage of clean and safe water has increased significantly.  

• Three Water Catchment Protection areas set up, 13 water stand taps provided and 10 Water Management Committees created or restructured. 
• We have reduced the number of households who are still using streams, rivers and waterholes for drinking water.  We are still working with grazers to increase their uses of water stand taps.
• Water catchment protection has had a positive bridge-building effect, collaboration in the sustainable use of water in the communities increased significantly.

We will continue set up water provision to limit the competition between people and cattle over access to clean water.  It is a priority to construct clean and safe drinking water sources/catchments and setting up and enhancing water management committees.  MBoscuda are working with international partners to secure funding for more Water Catchment Protection Area and Water Management Committees.

MBOSCUDA carries out capacity building training for both it staff and members in the areas of organizational development, Para-legal extension, REFLECT, Social Drama etc.

Trainings are both internal and external.

Agro-pastoral Development:

The cattle in particular is an intergral part of the Mbororos life. In fact, the socio-economic and cultural life of the Mbororo Fulani is totally dependent on the cow. When he is separated from his cow his life is ruined.

The Mbororo pastoralists in Cameroon like in other parts of Africa face severe problems with their livestock that theatens their survival and this has been a serious matter of concern for the Cameroon state, the pastoralists themselves and some Non Governmental Organisations. some of the key problems include; discrimination against the pastoralists by other ethnic groups, environmental degredation which has affected the productivity and production of their livestock. Diseases and lack of land rights with frequent conflicts with the farming communities are other serious issues of concern.

Since the creation of MBOSCUDA it has as one of its key objectives to improve upon agro- pastoral practices to ensure maximum protection of their environment as well contribute and participate in all possible undertakings aimed at better management of the grazing land, the environment and other livestock production domains.

Since 1992 MBOSUDA has embarked on massive  sensitization, education and campaigns within and   without the pastoralist communities to improve the Agro-pastoral sector that is always plaqued with complicated problems.

MBOSUDA in colaboration with its partners and the Cameroon state with other secondary stakeholders seeks to create a condusive and friendly environment for the peaceful cohabitation of the farmers and the grazers.It also has a five years development plan to holistically address the major problems  including securing and imroving the grazing lands that affect the Mbororo pastoralits and their livestock. 

Background

The MBOSCUDA microcredit scheme was conceived in 1998 within the framework of the “Growing from within program” but only became operational in the year 2003 considering the detailed baseline survey and strategy design carried out during the period. The scheme was initiated on the background of the many economic and social problems encountered by the Mbororo women of Cameroon that seriously impede their development.

Faced with problems related to limited access and control over productive resources including income, biased cultural environment, religious misinterpretations and gross gender discrimination, the Mbororo women are increasingly marginalized and subject to extremely high dependency on men in all aspects of their livelihood. They are relegated and limited to the less vital economic activities like milking of cattle and milk processing into butter, while men patronize huge income generating activities like cattle rearing and marketing as they undermine the ability and status of women and therefore determine the local politics of the household and community.

The micro-credit scheme was therefore conceived to empower the Mbororo women of the province economically to secure their day-to-day needs and hence socially and politically to influence issues in key areas of their lives. Initially, the scheme targeted 20 Mbororo communities in the N.W.P and has now been extended to include some 20 more communities in view of effective engagement.

Credit model and perspectives

The micro-credit scheme is based on artrism or the welfarist approach of micro-finance. It is conventionally referred to as the Credit-First approach however, with a strong focus on adult literacy using the REFLECT and PRA approaches. The program is designed towards bridging the gender gap in Mbororo communities especially in the domain of decision making and social empowerment aimed at challenging perceptions vis-à-vis the status of Mbororo women. The scheme is not business oriented but geared towards attaining a high social objective. It is therefore strategically situated in the conflict between outreach and sustainability.

It is on the basis of this target that the scheme has little affinity for collaterals, as a prerequisite for credit delivery but strives to build practical entrepreneurial skills and credit worthiness in clients as alternative social guarantee and value. A strong attention however is given to savings, building on the traditional structures, systems and approaches of savings mobilization and capital formation in groups and communities. The savings component of the scheme includes a voluntary savings and an obligatory savings (10% of loan)

Due to religious prerogatives, loans are apparently provided on a free interest terms but groups however make a contribution of 10% usually sourced from and equivalent to obligatory savings to subvent the running of the scheme. In addition to micro loans and savings, the scheme also provides financial related services like trainings, advice in business management and counseling in case of business failures. The scheme is heavily subsidised considering that group contribution can not service the high cost of running the scheme. In order to sustain the loan fund capital, the scheme uses the strategy designed 

The scheme is very vigilant on loan delinquency which is being addressed through regular monitoring and support to group activities. Through REFLECT, the scheme is also able to generate and share learning amongst groups that facilitate the successful realization of their loan activities.

 Loan delivery framework and procedures

1. Loan delivery framework.

The loan delivery framework has three key actors: client groups, community based financial institutions, micro credit institution ( MBOSCUDA ), with distinct rules in the delivery mechanism.

1. loan delivery procedures

• Sensitization of groups/communities on the micro credit scheme.
• Identification of potential group using the cash poor household index
• Group applies for a loan. A participatory project identification process carried out with groups.
• Feasibility study of project carried out with groups using REFLECT and loan application file completed.
• Planning carried out with groups using planning kit.
• Appropriate technical training carried out on identified project.
• Credit committee held to approve files or reject files for review.
• Disbursement carried out.
• Monitoring and evaluation of group project.
• Recovery, review and recycling of loans
• The scheme has a business plan and a clear monitoring information system that streamline the delivery procedure.

1. Loan policies/conditions.

• Loan ceilings: 500000 and 1000000 for 1^st and 2^nd loans respectively
• Maximum loan cycle per year: 2.
• Loan duration: 2years.
• Eligible credit line: agriculture, petit trading, livestock production (except cattle), artisanal (craft).
• Eligible group membership: 5 – 35 with CIG status.
• Other group obligations: 10% contribution and effective participation in learning circles.

II. Skills and Enterprise Development

The skills and enterprise development sub–component is aimed at building technical and entrepreneurial skills of women in target groups of the province. In light of this objective, women across thirty groups have acquired training and are effectively running market oriented units in various aspects as seen in the table below.