Executive Summary
The Community Initiative for Sustainable Development (COMINSUD) is a national civil society organization founded in 1996 to empower communities towards achieving their goals. In 2025, COMINSUD was officially recognized as a national NGO by the Ministry of Territorial Administration (MINAT) with Decision No. 000276/A/MINAT/SG/DAP/SDLP/SONG/BA of July 3, 2025, evolving from a grassroots waste management initiative into a recognized development actor in Cameroon. Guided by principles of good governance, human rights, gender equity, and environmental sustainability, the organization implements multi-sectoral interventions in governance, peacebuilding, WASH, environmental management, food security, and humanitarian action. COMINSUD is governed by a General Assembly and a Management Board that provide strategic oversight and accountability. Within the reporting year, the organization operated with a staff strength of 27 personnel (12 males and 15 females), including 4 volunteers. It was supported by at least 150 community focal persons across its areas of intervention.
During the 2025 reporting year, COMINSUD implemented six (6) multi-sectoral projects mainly in the North West Region, covering five (5) divisions (Mezam, Momo, Ngoketunjia, Boyo, and Menchum) and twenty (20) subdivisions (Bamenda I, II, III, Bafut, Santa, Batibo, Mbengwi, Widikum, Belo, Njinikom, Ndop, Benakuma, Fundong, Tubah, and Wum). COMINSUD’s programs, delivered across 5 strategic thematic areas: Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion; Environment and Climate Action; Food Security and Livelihoods; Protection and Health; and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), reached out to a total of 56,167 direct and indirect beneficiaries. Women and girls constituted the majority of beneficiaries (58%), while 31% were men and boys, and 11% were children and youth, reflecting the organization’s strong focus on gender inclusion and support to vulnerable populations.
Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion accounted for the largest share of beneficiaries, reaching 20,050 people (35.7%) through community dialogue forums, conflict prevention sensitization, and youth engagement activities aimed at strengthening peaceful coexistence and local conflict-resolution mechanisms. COMINSUD’s efforts in peacebuilding culminated in an award to the coordinator, Mr. Fon Nsoh, as Peace Man of the Year 2025 by the PCC. Under Environment and Climate Action, COMINSUD reached 13,000 beneficiaries (23.1%) through environmental awareness campaigns, promotion of sustainable natural resource management practices, and climate change sensitization, contributing to improved environmental stewardship and community resilience. Food Security and Livelihoods interventions supported 10,037 beneficiaries (17.9%) through actions designed to strengthen household food security and income-generating capacities. In the Protection and Health sector, COMINSUD reached 8,080 beneficiaries (14.4%), providing targeted support to vulnerable groups through protection sensitization, health-related activities, and community-level support mechanisms. WASH interventions reached 5,000 beneficiaries (8.9%), improving access to safe water and hygiene through water point rehabilitation, catchment protection, and strengthening of community water management structures.
During the reporting year, COMINSUD managed a total programme budget of XAF 273,517,201, of which 81% was allocated to direct programme implementation and 19% to operational and support costs, demonstrating a strong commitment to efficiency, accountability, and value for money. COMINSUD implemented its programs in close collaboration with eight (8) government ministries, five (5) local councils, twenty-six (26) community and civil society partners, and three (3) government parastatals, ensuring alignment with national development priorities, sector strategies, and decentralization frameworks, including the National Development Strategy (NDS30). Despite challenges related to insecurity and access constraints, COMINSUD demonstrated operational resilience through adaptive programming, strong community engagement, and effective partnerships. Building on lessons learned, the organization will continue to strengthen integrated programming and expand its impact in support of inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable development in Cameroon.
