Humanitarian action is only truly effective when it reaches everyone, including the most vulnerable. In line with this principle, the Coordinating Unit of Associations of Persons with Disabilities (CUAPWD), under the Leave No One Behind Phase 4 (LNOB4) project in partnership with CBM, facilitated an intensive two-day capacity-building workshop for Caritas Bamenda staff.
Delivered entirely by CUAPWDβs expert team, the training provided a comprehensive deep dive into disability-inclusive humanitarian programming. The sessions focused on equipping Caritas Bamenda with practical tools and knowledge to identify and dismantle barriers to inclusion, ensuring disability mainstreaming is integrated across all aspects of their humanitarian response.
This collaboration reflects the strong and ongoing partnership between CUAPWD and CBM, which aims to build the capacity of both Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and mainstream humanitarian actors to deliver more inclusive and effective assistance in the North West Region of Cameroon. Through LNOB4, CBM continues to support CUAPWD in advancing disability rights and fostering meaningful inclusion within humanitarian coordination and programming.
Caritas Bamenda, a key humanitarian actor with a long-standing commitment to serving all community members, has demonstrated genuine interest in strengthening its disability inclusion approach. The organization is already implementing projects that engage persons with disabilities and expressed readiness to adopt more intentional inclusive practices.
The workshop created a valuable space for reflection and self-assessment. Staff explored the practical realities of mainstreaming disability, identifying both challenges and opportunities within their current operations. Many participants noted that the training revealed barriers they had previously overlooked.
In his closing remarks, the Director of Caritas Bamenda, Rev. Father Frankline Kamgeh, highlighted the transformative impact of the sessions:
βThe workshop is like an audit to us. It has made us see that we need to make our facility accessible and make our programs inclusive. There are so many possibilities for growth as an organization. During our working session, we were able to bring up some points which will better our organization in the days ahead.β
This eye-opening experience has led to concrete commitments. Caritas Bamenda is now dedicated to removing identified barriers and embedding disability inclusion into its organizational culture; from project design and implementation to recruitment processes, where slots are being intentionally reserved for persons with disabilities.
Initiatives like this demonstrate a powerful shift in the humanitarian sector: disability inclusion is moving from being an afterthought to becoming a core priority.
