Regenerative Urban Agriculture

From November 2022 to June 2023, this Urban Agriculture project was led by the Mount Oku Center for Gender and Socioeconomic Empowerment (MOCGSE) and Tah Kennette Konsum. The project aimed to improve food and economic security for vulnerable Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), particularly women, girls, and youths, displaced by ongoing conflict in Cameroon. The team worked across 10 IDP settlement zones, reaching 450 households.

MOCGSE's activities primarily focused on how farmers might integrate regenerative agricultural practices, including developing a demonstration site for training and conducting sessions on regenerative urban gardening techniques, and forming an IDP cooperative to manage crop marketing and savings.

These activities aimed to create lasting improvements for livelihoods, nutrition, and education.

Economic Livelihood: Participants generated an estimated earnings of 20,000 CFA (approximately USD$32.81) every two weeks from their harvests. Their harvests also reduced household dependence on food purchases, as they had direct access to fresh and nutritious vegetables.

Food & Nutrition: The project improved overall diet quality and nutrition by consuming a diverse range of healthy foods and vegetables.

Education & Growing Capacities: Participants gained practical skills in urban gardening, waste management, and composting. The project also enabled them to grow perishable foods using found, upcycled materials like broken buckets.