Yaoundé, Cameroon – The launch of the Leave No One Behind (LNOB) Phase 4 project marks a pivotal moment in Cameroon’s journey toward meaningful disability inclusion. What began as fragmented advocacy efforts has blossomed into a nationwide movement, with the Coordinating Unit of Associations of Persons with Disabilities (CUAPWD) now standing at the forefront of humanitarian decision-making. This transformation didn’t happen overnight; it’s the result of years of strategic collaboration with CBM Cameroon, an alliance that has rewritten the narrative around disability rights in the lives of persons with disabilities.
From Grassroots to Government: The Remarkable Ascent of CUAPWD
CUAPWD’s journey mirrors the struggles and triumphs of Cameroon’s disability community. A decade ago, many member organizations worked in isolation, their voices barely audible in policy discussions. Today, CUAPWD representatives routinely sit across the table from ministers and UN officials, their insights shaping national humanitarian frameworks.
This metamorphosis became particularly visible during the LNOB Phase 3 implementation, where CUAPWD members:
- Built bridges between the government and grassroots through the Disability Inclusion Pool of Experts
LNOB Phase 4: Building an Architecture of Inclusion
The back-to-back meetings in late February revealed both the project’s ambition and its grounding in hard-won experience. At the UNFPA office, humanitarian cluster leads and key stakeholders leaned forward to catch every word of CUAPWD’s barrier analysis.
- Turning Lived Experience into Policy Change
The Board Chair’s presentation cut through theoretical discussions with stark realities: a wheelchair user unable to access distribution sites, a deaf woman missing critical health information, and the systemic overlooking of psychosocial disabilities in emergency planning.
“These aren’t hypotheticals—they’re daily realities for our members,” she emphasized, tapping the table for emphasis. The subsequent silence spoke volumes before erupting into action-oriented dialogue about concrete solutions.
- Operationalizing Inclusion Through Systems
CBM’s LNOB Coordinator walked participants through the “how” of transformation:
- The Disability Inclusion Marker is now being integrated into all partner reporting
- Capacity-building roadmaps that treat OPDs as equal partners rather than beneficiaries
- Flexible funding mechanisms acknowledging that accessibility costs aren’t optional extras
The Finance Manager’s session turned heads when demonstrating how CUAPWD now manages complex donor reporting—a far cry from earlier struggles with basic accounting procedures.
- Confronting the Elephant in the Room
Despite progress, the meetings didn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths. The “challenges” flipchart filled rapidly:
- Humanitarian agencies still view disability as a “specialized” rather than a cross-cutting issue
- Well-meaning policies gathering dust due to implementation gaps
- The persistent temptation to tokenize rather than truly empower OPD representatives
“We’re done being photo ops,” declared a Platforme representative, sparking nods across the room. The resulting action plans focused on sustainable capacity transfer rather than short-term visibility.
The CBM-CUAPWD Partnership: A Case Study in Effective Allyship
What makes this collaboration work where others falter?
- The Long Game
While many NGOs chase quick wins, CBM committed to CUAPWD’s multi-year institutional development from basic governance training to sophisticated advocacy strategy sessions. - Power Awareness
CBM consistently positions itself as a bridge rather than a gatekeeper, creating direct pathways between CUAPWD and international decision-makers.
The Road Ahead: From Momentum to Movement
As Phase 4 moves from planning to action, several developments bear watching:
- The Ripple Effect
CUAPWD’s success is inspiring emerging OPDs across Cameroon, with requests for mentorship pouring in from neighboring regions. - Next-Gen Leadership
Young disability advocates are being groomed through CUAPWD’s new mentorship program, ensuring continuity beyond current leaders. - Data Revolution
The partnership’s emphasis on disability-disaggregated data is finally making Cameroon’s invisible populations statistically visible.
“We’re not just changing programs—we’re changing mindsets,” reflected a CBM staffer as the kickoff meeting concluded.
