Capacity building with UNDP

In the last quarter of the year 2020, some individuals under THOF mentorship (mentees) were privileged to have been selected by the UNDP for capacity building and knowledge dissemination program they launched to support 500 youths and women during the covid-19 pandemic. THOF being an organisation whose goal is to help young Cameroonians find their feet into agriculture entrepreneurship has been mentoring youths from diverse backgrounds running small-scale agriculture activities ranging from gardening, supply chain and transformation.

These youths are part of the network initiated by THOF and her partners in the division that brings together yearly young producers and agripreneurs to showcase their talent and share experience with others in the sector. Although the selection was a welcome enthusiasm for these mentees as they gain capacity training from the benevolent assistance of the project, the very much enthusiasm came to abrupt end when they noticed that the main factor that pulled them to participate at this training (supporting their effort by providing assistance like equipment and seed capital) did not reach them. However, the training enables some of her members to acquire knowledge through the training by UNDP in Buea.

Thus, even without receiving equipment, some members who attended in person benefited from the training because they were trained on business start-up and management of small businesses, monitoring and evaluation of business, etc. At the end of the training certificates were awarded to participants. We are optimistic that our mentees will pick up from where the training ended and rival the much affected agribusinesses and production systems affected by the cruelty of Covid-19 and the Anglophone crisis. The developed business skills and the entrepreneurs’ network they are into now will continue to encourage their effort. Just like the slogan, “the journey of a 1000 mile start with a step”… the UNDP initiative was one of those many hands that will lead them to cross that road as they continue to walk towards a successful enterprising life.