Cameroon - JIPS - Joint IDP Profiling Service

Cameroon

Since 2016, the conflict between the Central Government and non-state armed groups (NSAGs) in the English-speaking North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon has caused widespread displacement, with both sides guilty of human rights violations. The violence has also displaced people within the West Region. According to the latest multi-sectoral needs assessment (MSNA) by OCHA and IOM, nearly 650,000 people have been displaced by the crisis and its spillover to the West and Littoral regions. However, the available data on IDPs is insufficient and inconsistent, with local authorities holding partial figures that have not been verified.

In response to this, as part of the project Promoting Economic and Social Participation of Internally Displaced Persons and Host Population Communities (PESoP) of the German Society for International Collaboration (GIZ, for its German acronym), JIPS supports UNHCR to collect data in five municipalities in the West Region: Foumban, Dschang, Kuoptamo, Mbouda, and Bafoussam I. These municipalities host 34 percent of the estimated 114,111 IDPs in the West Region. JIPS has been supporting an IDP registration component and leading on an internal displacement profiling exercise in these 5 municipalities since 2023.

Project Overview

The overall objective of the PeSOP project is to improve the socio-economic conditions and promote economic and social participation of internally displaced people and host communities, especially women, in Cameroon. The project has four main components: Economic participation, social participation, socio-economic profiling, and gender-based violence.

The UNHCR country office contacted JIPS in the spring of 2023 to request technical support specifically on the socio-economic profiling (component 3 of the PESoP project). JIPS carried out a scoping mission in November 2023 and provided a series of recommendations on how to proceed, including:

  • Build a minimum viable registration system based on existing efforts, with a differentiated approach by municipality considering their capacities, potential use, and commitment.
  • Expand the focus beyond the socio-economic analysis to consider other criteria relevant to durable solutions to displacement.
  • Advance the profiling and registration processes simultaneously and independently, with a focus on data use to guide them.
  • Apply a multi-stakeholder approach, formalised with a Technical Working Group (TWG) while specifying the role of the PESOP piloting committee (CP) including community representation.

The mission informed a comprehensive project workplan and TOR for JIPS’ technical support, involving thus far:

  • A technical support mission in July 2024 where JIPS facilitated workshops with community members, civil society, local authorities, and national authorities in each of the five municipalities; helped establish the collaborative structure; drafted the profiling methodology; and advised on the registration methodology.
  • Support to UNHCR in the recruitment and training of the local team working on the project, as well as guidance and support for the training of data collection supervisors and enumerators.
  • Lead the questionnaire development working with UNHCR and BUCREP, and upload to Kobo, as well as support the elaboration of operational guidance for the data collection, and plan for the joint analysis stage.

The data collection for both registration and profiling was carried out in November and December 2024.

Project partners

The PeSOP project is implemented in collaboration with diverse local, national, and international partners, bringing complementary expertise to the initiative. This has helped ensure that the project is both contextually grounded and technically robust, with a focus on achieving lasting, community-driven solutions. Partners include:

  • GIZ: PeSOP project lead, including funding support and coordination across the four project components (see above).
  • UNHCR: Lead agency for the socio-economic profiling component, including overseeing the overall project methodology, data collection, and analysis, as well as ensuring alignment of the profiling and registration activities with international standards for IDP data collection.
  • JIPS: Support the PeSOP project since 2023 with a focus on the socio-economic profiling of IDPs and host communities including methodology design, data collection, and analysis process for the profiling as well as advising on the registration approach.
  • BUCREP (Census Bureau): Support the data collection process including technical aspects of questionnaire development, ensure the collection of high-quality data, help in the integration of the data into the national statistical framework, and operating the data collection.
  • INS (National Institute for Statistics) and BUNEC (National Bureau of Civil Status): Technical advice and capacities throughout the process.
  • Local authorities and municipal actors (including municipal authorities from the 5 municipalities, traditional leaders, community representatives, and civil society organisations such as HURAC): Engage in the profiling process incl. by providing local context as well as reviewing and validating key elements, and ensuring that the project aligns with regional priorities.
  • PeSOP Extended Piloting Committee: Provides advice, reviews and validation at different stages of the project including objectives, registration and profiling methodologies, data management, data collection, joint analysis, use fo the results, dissemination, and application at the regional and municipal levels.
    The Committee is comprised of: national authorities (Ministère de la décentralisation et du Développement local – MINDDEVEL, Fond national de l’emploi – FNE, Services du gouverneur, Ministère des affaires sociales – MINAS, Ministère de promotion de la femme et de la famille – MINEPROFF, Ministère de la formation professionnelle – MINEFOP, Ministère des petites et moyennes entreprises – MINPMEESA, Ministère de la jeunesse et de l’éducation civique – MINJEC, Chamber of Commerce of Cameroon, Chamber of agriculture and Livestock, Fisheries and Forests, Human Rights Commission, Regional Health Delegation of Bafoussam, Ministère de la justice); international organisations (OCHA and UNFPA); and international NGOs (Rhema Care).

Highlights

While the project is still ongoing, several intermediary achievements and highlights can already be observed:

  • Collaborative approach: JIPS worked closely with UNHCR, BUCREP, and local authorities to develop a comprehensive methodology for both the registration and socio-economic profiling components. This collaboration ensures that the process is not only technically sound but also aligned with the realities of the local context as well as anchored with in-country institutions.
  • Community engagement: A key aspect of the profiling exercise, local communities, civil society, and municipal authorities across the five municipalities have been actively involved in shaping the project. This approach fosters ownership and participation from the local level up.
  • Real-time adaptations: Recognising the challenges faced by local authorities in providing accurate data, JIPS recommended a flexible approach with the parallel advancement of the registration and profiling activities, allowing for more comprehensive and real-time data collection.
  • Tailored methodology: JIPS helped tailor the profiling methodology to the specific conditions and capacities of each municipality. This has ensured that the data collected is both representative and useful for local-level decision-making.
  • Training and capacity development: JIPS supported the recruitment and training of enumerators and supervisors, equipping them with the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively carry out the data collection and generate quality data across all municipalities.

These activities have laid the foundation for a more accurate and holistic understanding of the challenges faced by IDPs and host communities, with an emphasis on providing solutions that promote local integration.

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