Programs

Hunger and poverty are often rooted in structural problems at societal and global levels. To address symptoms as well as causes RELUFA strategizes its actions around the three themes of Just Relations, Economic Development, and Food Sovereignty. The latter is RELUFA's emergency response program to the critical food situation in the arid North. Under Economic Development resorts the network's micro-finance initiative "Credit Against Poverty", while more systemic societal and global inequities are tackled in the programs of Economic Justice and Gender Justice

FOOD SOVEREIGNTY

With the Sahara desert stretching out over the Far North Province, this part of Cameroon is permanently at the brink of famine. Through the establishment of a community grain banking system in vulnerable villages RELUFA breaks the cycle of exploitation by businessmen, food scarcity, soaring market prices and dependency on food distribution programs. The community granaries allow for self-governance of food supplies by the villagers and curb the usury mechanisms that generate poverty.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Credit Against Poverty (CAP) is RELUFA's micro-finance initiative to provide low-interest and generally guarantee-free loans for projects of poor communities affiliated with our member organizations. CAP’s repayment schedules are flexible and tailored to the productive cycles of the community’s activities. The program sensitizes target groups and network members on healthy micro-finance programs, teaches them bookkeeping skills, and offers close accompaniment in the field. CAP further studies and promulgates alternative savings systems and facilitates the exchange of experiences.

The network intends to launch an Alternative Trade Program, but it is in a conceptual stage only.

ECONOMIC JUSTICE

Cameroon's wealth in natural resources are exploited to satisfy foreign markets. Seeking Economic Justice RELUFA joins national and international efforts to advocate changes in the current trends of the extractive industries in the Central African region. With the Chad Cameroon Oil and Pipeline Project as case study, the network follows up on unresolved compensation issues, monitors changes in living standards of the poplation living in the vicinity of the pipeline, assists them in rebuilding their livelihoods, calls for transparency in the extractive industries by joining the international "Publish What You Pay" coalition, and sensitizes religious communities on the tendencies of the global economy at large.

GENDER JUSTICE

To break down gender related barriers, RELUFA capacitates Cameroonian women at the cultural, religious, juridical and economical levels. The network's Gender Justice action plan includes studies on customary and religious practices, and the misuse of Biblical and Koranic texts; sensitization campaigns on women’s rights; dissemination and amendment of the draft Family Code, and lobbying for its passing in Parliament; and the pursuit of the notion of gender in established theological training programs.

PROGRAMMATIC AND INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT

Each of RELUFA's programs is supported by activities that enhance communications and strengthen the network's foundation for solidarity action.

To lift up people's stories from the grassroots to a worldwide audience, to publicize the network's programs and to make the efforts of its member organization known to a larger public, RELUFA tries to mantain a website.

For cross-fertilization of knowledge and the sharing of experiences, RELUFA's support program allows for several exchange visits between member organizations per year.

RELUFA seeks to strengthen its solidarity action through study and publications of religious and cultural traditions that express values of solidarity