By Louisa Kinyuy
Sectoral staff and teachers in the Mayo-Danay division of Cameroon’s Far North region have been trained on various strategies to combat flooding in their area.
This initiative is part of a comprehensive Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and education support project initiated by Plan International, with critical emergency funding from IRISH AID. A critical effort to secure the lives and educational future of children in Cameroon’s flood-battered Far North region.
Sixty participants in total, made of teachers and sectoral staff from the hard-hit Kai Kai and Maga localities, were the focus of the two day intensive training program that took place from November 8 to 10, 2025 in Maga.
The training had as overall goal to strengthen their capacity in terms of prevention, preparation, and response to protect school communities, which are frequently devastated by floods, resulting in loss of life and chronic educational disruption.
The training made use of highly interactive methodology combining theoretical presentations, focused group work and practical simulations using local case files to achieve set objectives.
This marks a significant step toward securing both the lives and educational future of children in the flood-affected region, by creating a cadre of informed and prepared educational professionals.
Alongside the capacity building workshop for staff and teachers, was that of the core weakness hindering response to the severe humanitarian crisis characterizing the Far North region due to low community resilience, stemming from factors like insecurity, limited basic services, high poverty, and recurrent climate crises (drought, floods, food insecurity).
The cause is attributed to the lack of rapid and efficient local Disaster Risk Management (DRM), where preparation and coordination roles are fragmented and unclear. To directly tackle the situation, Plan International launched a three month “Education support project for children affected by flooding in the far north region of Cameroon”
With key local structures (SCAP-RU and CCPR) a community risk map for schools was developed, integrated flood contingency created, evacuation, and response plans drawn. The activity’s objective were specific; flood-risk areas were mapped out, a tested community evacuation plan designed, coordinated response plan with early warning mechanisms elaborated, and skills of the SCAP-RU and CCPR committees strengthened. This was achieved using participatory methods.
Plan International’s “Education Support Project For Children Affected By Flooding In The Far North Region Of Cameroon” represents a crucial shift from reactive disaster response to proactive risk reduction and preparedness.
By empowering educators and community committees, and by creating locally adapted and tested DRM tools, the initiative, supported by IRISH AID, is building the foundations for a more resilient future where the lives and education of children are better protected from the relentless threat of recurrent floods. The successful implementation of these plans promises a significant and measurable step towards securing stability and educational continuity in this highly vulnerable part of Cameroon.
