Action by Churches Together (ACT)
Appeal - Cameroon
Drought Relief - AFCM-11
Appeal Target: US$ 149,692
Geneva,  21 June 2001


The far north of Cameroon is the most densely populated province in
Cameroon with a population of about three million - and where it is
estimated that around 75% of the inhabitants can be classified as
vulnerable.  There are few industries in this area with the most usual
occupations being in agriculture.  Inclement weather in the form of
intense heat and drought conditions frequently hit this area, severely
disrupting the agricultural activities causing loss of crops, livestock
and hence livelihood.

Due to persistent low rainfall over the last years, it has become more and
more difficult to eke out a livelihood from agriculture and many of the
inhabitants are becoming victims of an ever increasing threat of famine.  
During 2000, the rains ended abruptly in July before the cereal crops
could reach maturity. Rainfall registered was 58 days and a total of 1,070
mm, the lowest measured in the same period for the last 5 years.

The usual hunger period peaks in July and August.  However, this year the
hunger period started as early as the beginning of April.  The low and
erratic rainfall has drastically affected agricultural production, prices
have rocketed sky-high and purchase of basic food items is well beyond the
means of the average person.  People are selling off what little
possessions they have in order to feed their families or obtain necessary
medicines.  If no assistance is forthcoming the famine will soon take its
toll and the most vulnerable, especially children and elderly may die.

ACT member/partner the Lutheran Brethren Church of Cameroon (LBCC) is
proposing assistance comprising the following components for the most
vulnerable:

  Food (corn, rice & sorghum)
  Seeds (short cycle maize & sorghum)

Project Completion Date:  31 October 2001


Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance
Requested
                                            US$
Total Appeal Target(s)                  149,692
Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.                    0
Balance Requested from ACT Network      149,692


Ms. Genevieve Jacques		Thor-Arne Prois		Rev. Rudolf Hinz
Director			ACT Coordinator		Director
WCC/Cluster on Relations				LWF/World Service



REQUESTING ACT MEMBER INFORMATION

Lutheran Brethren Church of Cameroon (LBCC)


IMPLEMENTING ACT MEMBER & PARTNER INFORMATION

The Lutheran Brethren Church of Cameroon (LBCC) was founded in 1920 in
Garoua, in the northern part of the country by pastors from the Lutheran
Brethren Mission of the United States of America. The church became a
member of the Lutheran World Federation in June 1992.  In 2000, the LBCC
had a membership of 105'994 with 181 pastors, 905 catechists and 126
evangelists and 875 congregations. Among others, LBCC has started
disseminating agricultural and agro-pastoral techniques through extension
work and is encouraging farmers to form farmers' associations. Currently,
the agricultural development is at a standstill but the sector dealing
with the manufacture of agricultural tools such as ploughs, carts and hoes
is ongoing.



DESCRIPTION OF THE EMERGENCY SITUATION

Background

Cameroon has a population of 12'875'000 and the GNP per capita is
approximately USD 620.  Today there is peace in the country and the
Government is giving signs of national reconciliation. Currently, the
country is facing two major issues, the spectrum of an economic crisis and
a very low rainfall especially affecting the northern part of the country
where drought conditions are evident.  These factors have some internal
repercussions and could lead to instability once again.

Due to the rural depopulation from the far north, about 850,000 people
live in the north province where the mean rainfall of the area varies
between 1,264 mm in 1999 and 1,070 mm in 2000.  The main occupation of
this area revolves around agriculture, breeding livestock, small fishing
industries and some trade

The far north of Cameroon is the most densely populated province in
Cameroon with a population of about three million - and where it is
estimated that around 75% of the inhabitants can be classified as
vulnerable.  There are few industries in this area with the most usual
occupations being in agriculture.  Inclement weather in the form of
intense heat and drought conditions frequently hit this area, severely
disrupting the agricultural activities causing loss of crops, livestock
and hence livelihood.

Due to persistent low rainfall over the last years, it has become more and
more difficult to eke out a livelihood from agriculture and many of the
inhabitants are becoming victims of an ever increasing threat of famine.



Current situation

In the year 2000, the rains ended abruptly in July before the cereal crops
could reach maturity. Rainfall registered was 58 days and a total of 1,070
mm, the lowest measured in the same period for the last 5 years. Compared
to 1999, rainfall measured over the same period dropped in 2000 by 194 mm.  
At the same time, in 2000 there was a reduction of 10% of cereals sown and
a 5% reduction in tubers grown - instead people gave preference to the
cultivation of cotton whose prices had suddenly risen compared to those of
other crops.

As a result there was a noticeable deficit in the production of cereals
such as sorghum, millet and maize along with an equally sizeable reduction
in rice. Consequently, there was a significant rise in the market prices
with a 50 kg bag of white sorghum costing FCA 5,000 in July 2000
increasing to FCA 12'000 in February 2001.  During the same period, a bag
of corn formally costing CFA 6,000 climbed to FCA 15'000.  Not
withstanding the cost, these products are also scarce on the market.

Statistics from the Provincial Delegation of Agriculture of the north and
the far north indicate a deficit of cereals of 156'680 tons (8'000 for the
north and 76'680 for the far north).

The Minister of Agriculture confirmed the urgency of the situation in a
communiqué on 25 January 2001 and the President of the Republic of
Cameroon immediately signed a grant for 4,000 tons of food aid to be
distributed to the most seriously affected persons in the far north
province.

The usual hunger period peaks in July and August.  However, this year the
hunger period started as early as the beginning of April.  The erratic
rainfall has further drastically affected agricultural production, prices
have rocketed sky-high and purchase of basic food items is well beyond the
means of the average person.  People are selling off what little
possessions they have in order to feed their families or obtain necessary
medicines.  If no assistance is forthcoming the famine will soon take its
toll and the most vulnerable, especially children and elderly may die.

Due to the erratic weather patterns there has been a 7% loss of millet and
sorghum production, a 25% loss in corn production, a 33% loss in rice and
a 50% loss in dry season sorghum.  Of the 43'200 hectares of land
allocated for the cultivation of maize, rice and sorghum, only 22'600
hectares have been cultivated in the far north - a total loss of 156'680
tons of assorted crops.



Locations for proposed response

As the Government of Cameroon has solved a part of the food needs for the
far north province, the Lutheran Brethren Church of Cameroon will
concentrate on the areas where the population relies essentially on income
through agriculture. Areas targeted will be Logone and Chari, Diamare,
Mayo Tsanaga, Mayo Kani, Mayo Sava and Benue - covering around 24,400 most
vulnerable families.


  
GOAL & OBJECTIVES

Goal

To provide life saving food to vulnerable groups among the population of
the north and far north provinces.



Objectives

To distribute food to the poor and most vulnerable

To distribute seeds for short cycle maize and sorghum

To build up the capacity of the people to manage their stocks and respond
to disaster situations in the future




BENEFICIARY INFORMATION

A total of 24,400 families have been targeted in the above-mentioned
areas. Assistance will be given to groups of men, women and children
regardless of their religious or political opinions. Assessments will be
carried out on the spot together with the project co-ordinator, to ensure
that the most vulnerable people are receiving the much needed assistance.




PROPOSED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE & IMPLEMENTATION

113.75 MT of corn, 57 MT of rice and 85.4 MT of sorghum will be purchased
and then trucked to the areas mentioned above, and put in a warehouse.
There small quantities will be put into individual rations for period
distribution to the most vulnerable, as identified through on the spot
assessment missions.

1 MT of short cycle rice and .5 MT of sorghum seeds will also be
distributed for the next planting.

Small workshops will be held with the beneficiaries to explain how to
manage future yields and the need to build up seed banks. Seeds will be
distributed once the rains arrive.



ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, MONITORING & REPORTING

Administration

The execution of this project is under EFLC supervision and will be
controlled by two committees:



Food Distribution Committee Co-ordination - made up of two members of
LBCC, one traditional authority or his representative and a representative
of each sister church (5).

Field Executive and Surveillance Project Committee - composed of a
Divisional Director of Regional Development, a President of Regional
Development, four regional presidents and members of the church's
technical advisers.

Conscious of the role of the Church in the human development and the
assistance to people who are victims of disasters, the Lutheran Brethren
Church of Cameroon has organised food aid co-ordination committees to give
its full support during and after the famine period.


The role of these committees is to define distribution strategies,
management and monitoring management at local level.


LBCC will also undertake to set up a local committee at distribution
points to that distribution can be done in a fair and transparent manner.
This committee will be comprised of five members. A close collaboration
will be set up with the government emergency commission.


The co-ordination committee shall carry out administration of the food
aid, record and follow up reporting narrative as well as financial. The
church's development committee shall be in charge of regular supervision
of field activities, sensitisation and vulgarisation of short cycle seeds.


An external auditor shall control management of funds and stock.



IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE

May-June :  Assessment and identification of initial beneficiaries
July/August/September:  Distribution of food on a period basis according
  to needs
September/October:  Small workshops and seeds distribution - disaster
  preparedness/awareness building.
November:  Final reporting and evaluation.



BUDGET

ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE

Description	Type of	No of	Unit Cost	Budget	Budget
	Unit	Units	CFA	CFA	US$
Food					
Corn	MT	113.75	360,000	40,950,000	53,419
Rice	MT	57.00	400,000	22,800,000	29,743
Sorghum	MT	85.40	400,000	34,160,000	44,562
Sub Total				97,910,000	127,724
					
Seeds					
Short cycle maize	MT	1.00	1,200,000	1,200,000	1,565
Sorghum	MT	0.50	1,500,000	750,000	978
Sub Total				1,950,000	2,544
					
Transportation					
Truck rental and fuel	Trip	50.00	183,606	9,180,300	11,976
Fare co-ordination committee	Person	10.00	100,000	1,000,000	1,305
Sub Total				10,180,300	13,280
					
PERSONNEL, ADMINISTRATION, OPERATIONS & SUPPORT			
Salaries and Support Staff:					
Coordinator	Month	1	250,000	250,000	326
Director (20% of monthly salary)	Month	1	60,000	60,000	78
Secretary	Month	1	150,000	150,000	196
Accountant	Month	1	200,000	200,000	261
Office Operations:					
Office equipment	Lumpsum		300,000	300,000	391
Telephone and email	Lumpsum		250,000	250,000	326
Other Expenses:					
Casual workers	Person	100	10,000	1,000,000	1,305
Sub Total				2,210,000	2,883
					
Other Costs					
Material for awareness building	Lumpsum		100,000	100,000	130
Translation of appeal	Lumpsum		200,000	200,000	261
Visibility material	Lumpsum		400,000	400,000	522
Sub Total				700,000	913
					
Audit and Evaluation					
Audit of ACT appeal funds	Lumpsum		1,000,000	1,000,000	1,305
Evaluation of appeal	Lumpsum		800,000	800,000	1,044
Sub Total				1,800,000	2,348
					
TOTAL ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE			114,750,300	149,692
					
Rate of Exchange:   USD 1 = CFA	766.58				


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Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide alliance of churches and
their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency
response.  The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of 
Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.
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   Ecumenical Centre                          Phone: ++41-22-791.60.33
   150, route de Ferney                         Fax: ++41-22-791.65.06
   P.O. Box 2100                             E-Mail: act@wcc-coe.org
   1211 Geneva 2                              Telex: 415 730 OIK CH
   Switzerland                                 http://www.act-intl.org


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