UNICEF and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) have signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on January 20, 2026, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. This partnership aims to strengthen youth engagement and build community resilience against emergencies and climate change.
The collaboration equips UNICEF’s U-Report and U-Responders initiatives with vital training in disaster management, first-aid skills like CPR, and environmental protection tools. It targets vulnerable youth in Cameroon’s Far North, Northwest, and Southwest regions, where children face high risks from humanitarian crises and climate shocks. These areas suffer from conflicts, floods, and droughts, affecting millions. By empowering young volunteers, the project turns them into agents of change for their communities.
Nadine Perrault, UNICEF Representative in Cameroon, said: “This partnership places children and youth at the center of solutions to humanitarian, climate, and social crises.” It promises sustainable solutions that protect child rights. Melih Çağatay Artunay, TİKA Coordinator, added that it promotes education, health, and solidarity, involving Turkish companies and diaspora.
The MoU includes community education, infrastructure rehab, and awareness campaigns on child rights. This joins efforts amid Cameroon’s challenges, where youth form 40% of the population by 2030 projections. Such initiatives foster long-term resilience.
FAQs [Frequently Asked Questions]
What is the main goal of the UNICEF-TİKA partnership?
It strengthens youth engagement via U-Report/U-Responders, providing training in disaster management, first-aid, and climate tools to build resilience in emergencies.
Which Cameroon regions will benefit most?
Far North, Northwest, and Southwest regions, where children face severe humanitarian crises, conflicts, floods, and climate impacts.
How long does the agreement last?
The MoU is for two years, signed on January 20, 2026, focusing on sustainable child rights and community development.