Yaoundé, Cameroon, 27 January 2026 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has successfully completed a project financed by the European Union (EU) and aimed at improving access to safe, quality education and strengthening child protection services for over 22,000 children affected by conflict and displacement in Cameroon’s North-West and South-West regions.
Cameroon continues to face a severe and protracted humanitarian crisis. In 2026, humanitarian needs are expected to persist due to ongoing conflict, violence and insecurity, climate-related shocks, and health emergencies, leaving 2.9 million people in urgent need of assistance, according to the Global Humanitarian Overview 2026. Children have been among the hardest hit, particularly in regions affected by insecurity, displacement, and weakened public services.
In the Far North region, violence, threats to education, population displacement, and the limited capacity of schools and communities to absorb additional students have left nearly 1.4 million school-aged children in need of education assistance. In response, the IRC implemented an integrated education and child protection approach designed to improve children’s well-being, safety, and learning outcomes while strengthening community-based protection mechanisms.
Through this EU-funded action worth more than EUR 3,9 million, the IRC supported nearly 12,000 girls and 11,000 boys to access education in safe, protective, and inclusive learning environments, while ensuring that children at risk received timely psychosocial support, case management, and referrals. Building on innovative activities initiated under the former Protective and Adaptive Education Approaches for Children in Emergencies (PEACE) project, also funded by the EU Humanitarian Aid, pupils attending Koranic schools continued to benefit from improved access to quality education in secure settings.
A strong localisation approach was central to the project’s success. The IRC formalised partnerships with local organisations with the capacity to reach populations most affected by the crisis. These partnerships strengthened the delivery of psychosocial support, child protection case management, and community engagement activities, while reinforcing local leadership and sustainability.
The project also placed particular emphasis on coordination with state actors, notably in the implementation of Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP) activities to help out-of-school children catch up on missed learning. These efforts have changed lives, including that of Fadi, a 13-year-old girl who had dropped out of school in Grade 3 because her family could not afford school fees, but was able to re-enrol through the ALP. “Thanks to IRC and the European Union, I was able to return to school for free, receive school supplies, and prepare for the entrance exam into sixth grade,” she said. As a result, Fadi successfully passed the state Primary School Certificate and was able to enter middle school.
In addition, the IRC supported education stakeholders to develop risk reduction and disaster preparedness plans for schools and learning institutions, enhancing resilience in crisis-prone areas.
Toni Chibi, IRC Country Director in Cameroon, said:
“Insecurity and displacement continue to put children in Cameroon’s North-West and South-West regions at risk. This EU-funded project strengthened community protection systems, and the IRC remains committed to ensuring children can access safe education and protection services.”
The International Rescue Committee partners with the European Union to provide life-saving support to people caught in conflict and disasters around the world. Our work funded by the EU enables people to survive, recover and rebuild their lives.