CFAs: Food and Nutrition Support with School Feeding in Far North (Cameroon)

Deadline: 16-Dec-2025

The World Food Programme (WFP) is implementing a multi-faceted initiative in Cameroon’s Far North region to strengthen food security, enhance livelihoods, and improve nutrition for crisis-affected populations. The program integrates cash assistance, food-for-assets, and smallholder market support while prioritizing school meals and climate resilience. By 2026, WFP aims to ensure safe access to nutritious food, improve children’s nutritional outcomes, and build long-term community resilience.

Overview

The World Food Programme (WFP) targets vulnerable populations in Cameroon’s Far North, including refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, host communities, and smallholder farmers affected by crises and climate shocks. The initiative combines direct food support, cash assistance, and agricultural market interventions to improve food access and strengthen livelihoods.

Programme Objectives

• Ensure safe access to adequate and nutritious food during and after crises.

• Enhance resilience and livelihoods for food-insecure and climate-affected populations.

• Improve nutritional outcomes for children, particularly school-aged boys and girls.

• Support smallholder farmers through market access and asset-based interventions.

• Align activities with national priorities and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 4: Quality Education).

Focus Areas

1. Cash Assistance

   • Provide cash transfers to enable households to meet food needs flexibly.

   • Promote economic empowerment and access to local markets.

2. Food Assistance for Assets

   • Support vulnerable populations in exchange for participation in community asset-building activities.

   • Strengthen infrastructure that enhances local food security and resilience.

3. Smallholder Agricultural Market Support

   • Improve market access for local farmers.

   • Strengthen supply chains and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

4. School Meals and Nutrition

   • Deliver balanced, nutritious, and locally sourced meals to school-going children.

   • Improve health, school attendance, retention, and learning outcomes.

5. Cross-Sectoral Support

   • Include health, protection, shelter, water, sanitation, and non-food items.

   • Promote integrated solutions addressing multidimensional vulnerabilities.

Why It Matters

• Addresses severe food insecurity exacerbated by conflict, displacement, and climate shocks.

• Improves nutrition and educational outcomes for children.

• Supports smallholder farmers and strengthens local economies.

• Builds long-term resilience against climate-related risks.

• Contributes to achieving SDG 2 and SDG 4 by 2030.

How to Participate / How It Works

1. Partner Engagement

   • WFP works with cooperating partners experienced in humanitarian response and community development.

   • Partners implement cash and food interventions, support school meal distribution, and strengthen market linkages.

2. Implementation Steps

   • Identify eligible households and smallholder farmers.

   • Distribute cash and in-kind food commodities efficiently.

   • Facilitate school meal programs with attention to dietary diversity and local sourcing.

   • Monitor and evaluate outcomes for food security, nutrition, and livelihood improvements.

3. Monitoring & Reporting

   • Collect data on food distribution, cash transfers, and school meal delivery.

   • Track nutrition and education indicators among children.

   • Evaluate impact on livelihoods and community resilience.

Tips for Effective Implementation

• Ensure community participation and consultation in project design.

• Integrate climate-smart practices in agricultural and asset-building activities.

• Align interventions with local government priorities and UN frameworks.

• Maintain accurate, timely reporting and data collection for accountability.

FAQ

1. Who benefits from this initiative?
   Refugees, IDPs, returnees, host communities, and smallholder farmers in the Far North region.

2. What types of assistance are provided?
   Cash transfers, food-for-assets, school meals, and smallholder market support.

3. How does the program support children’s nutrition?
   Through balanced, locally sourced school meals improving health, attendance, and learning outcomes.

4. What is the timeframe of the initiative?
   Aligned with WFP’s five-year country strategic plan (2022–2026), contributing to the 2030 SDG targets.

5. How does the program address climate risks?
   By building resilient livelihoods, supporting climate-smart agriculture, and reinforcing community infrastructure.

6. Are local markets involved?
   Yes, the program strengthens smallholder market access to boost local economies and food security.

7. Who implements the program?
   WFP collaborates with local and international partners experienced in humanitarian and development operations.

Conclusion

WFP’s Far North Cameroon initiative provides critical support for food security, nutrition, and livelihoods in crisis-affected communities. By integrating cash and food assistance, school meal programs, and smallholder market support, the program builds resilience, enhances child nutrition, and contributes to sustainable development goals. This holistic approach ensures communities are better prepared for future shocks and promotes long-term stability in the region.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.