The Association des Femmes Veuves Agro-Commerçantes is comprised of 163 widows and plays an essential role in the social and economic transformation of their community on the Waza-Logone plain in Cameroon. These courageous women, who bear sole responsibility for their families after losing their husbands, are distinguished by their hard work and commitment to gender equality and economic empowerment.
Recently, Alinea International, in collaboration with local partner ACEEN, conducted a series of exchanges with them to identify options for income-generating activities, potential funding sources and relevant value chains within Cameroon’s Lake Chad Basin communities.
To provide for their families, association members are involved in several key economic activities. Among these, rice hulling and selling are crucial sources of income. They transform raw rice into a finished product ready to be sold on the local market.
In addition to these activities, the association sells fresh and smoked fish and plans to expand its activities to include rental and fishing from pirogues. This diversification would not only increase their income but also develop additional skills in the fishing sector, which is vital to the local economy.
Aware of the challenges associated with fish preservation due to untimely energy cuts and other unpredictable power failures, the association’s members express an urgent need for modern tools to improve preservation techniques and reduce losses. In addition, they are actively exploring alternative fish processing methods to diversify their production, access new markets, and add value to their products to secure more stable incomes for their families as well as their position in the local value chain. In the case of rice, the acquisition of a store in the middle of the market would facilitate the sale of their production.
The association’s inclusive and egalitarian approach is particularly noteworthy, with profits shared equally between younger and adult members. Each woman, in addition to being a real driving force, is honoured with the title of ‘Mounina Nguidan’, meaning strong women or lionesses in the Mousgoum dialect. This title symbolizes their strength and determination and reinforces their self-esteem and their place in the community.
The association does not just generate income; it also promotes gender equality. Encouraging women to become financially independent and make economic decisions helps to transform the social norms that often restrict women’s opportunities in this region. Thanks to Global Affairs Canada’s support for the Lake Chad Basin Conservation Project, the association is making progress towards a fairer, more egalitarian society.
Despite progress, challenges remain, such as limited access to resources and markets, and gender bias. Nevertheless, the women continue to be pioneers of female empowerment in their communities, and their commitment is helping to gradually change local social and economic norms.