Inclusive Social Protection : Offering A Chance To Vulnerable People With Disabilities

PROMHANDICAM and the Christian Blind Mission, CBM on Thursday August 21, 2025 launched the “Promoting Access to Inclusive Social Protection for Vulnerable People Living with Disabilities in Mfoundi Division, Centre Region of Cameroon” project. In PROMHANDICAM’s Mimboman, Yaounde headquarters. The launch was carried out by the Divisional Officer for Yaounde IV Subdivision, Emmanuel Ndongo, standing in for the Senior Divisional Officer for Mfoundi. Also present at the event was the Board Chair of PROMHANDICAM and divisional delegates. 

Civil Status Documents 
The project will be implemented by PROMHANDICAM with the financial and technical support of Christian Blind Mission. Running from August 2025-March 2026, the project seeks to strengthen access to basic civil status documents (birth certificate, National Identity Card and disability card). Which are necessary for vulnerable people living with disabilities to access formal social protection services.    

Objectives  
“Promoting Access to Inclusive Social Protection for Vulnerable People Living with Disabilities in Mfoundi Division, Centre Region of Cameroon” project targets 70 people with disabilities; 25 children of disabled parents and 15 parents with disabled children. The project will sensitise families and communities on social protection mechanisms and procedures for obtaining civil status documents. 
Offer support and assistance to obtain civil status documents needed to access social protection services. Contribute to taking into account the disability approach in the offer of social protection services. And strengthen advocacy efforts on inclusive social protection.
Meanwhile, the new project coincided with two major anniversaries this year - CMB and PROMHANDICAM marking 40 years of collaboration, and CBM celebrating its golden jubilee.  

Much Remains Undone
Citing a 2024 World Health Organisation and World Bank report, Emmanuel Ndongo said over a billion people in the world live with disabilities. And also face challenges accessing formal social protection services. Though Cameroon’s National Social Insurance Fund, NSIF, amongst others, handles old age pension, labour accidents and death allowances, the State has put in place other mechanisms to boost social protection for the disabled, he said. 
“Much however remains to be done. This is where the new project finds its relevance,” the Divisional Officer noted. He expressed gratitude to Christian Blind Mission for sponsoring the project, promising government’s continuous support to PROMHANDICAM’s activities.  

Complementary Project 
“Promoting Access to Inclusive Social Protection for Vulnerable People Living with Disabilities in Mfoundi Division, Centre Region of Cameroon” project involves both displaced and vulnerable people with disabilities. It is a complementary programme which has seen the light of day because of the challenges we witnessed on the field with other programmes we have been supporting. Notably, the promotion of access to inclusive education and the promotion of livelihoods for persons with disabilities,” said Julius Fon, Country Director Christian Blind Mission, CBM Cameroon.

Pilot Project 
“These ongoing programmes had barriers that eliminated some participants, especially the vulnerable because they did not have essential materials required for their participation. The project we just launched is a pilot in disability social protection inclusion. Stakeholders in issuing National Identity Cards, birth certificates and disability cards will be better informed of the situation of persons with disabilities and will help them. Henceforth around the country, people with disabilities will be easily supported to access these documents as a fundamental right,” Julius Fon promised.

Right, Not Privilege
“Social protection is not a privilege, but a right. Lack of access to civil status documents deprives vulnerable people living...