As humanitarian needs continue to evolve in Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest (NWSW) regions, aid organizations are adopting new approaches to ensure that assistance reaches affected communities more effectively. One of the key initiatives gaining momentum is Area-Based Coordination (ABC) a collaborative model designed to improve coordination, strengthen localization, and deliver more comprehensive support to people in need.
What Area-Based Coordination?
Area-Based Coordination (ABC) is an approach that brings together humanitarian actors working within a specific geographical area to jointly identify needs, plan interventions, and coordinate assistance. Rather than operating separately by sector—such as health, food security, shelter, or protection—organizations collaborate to provide a more integrated response tailored to the realities of a particular community.
In the Northwest and Southwest regions, ABC is organized around clearly defined administrative units, including divisions such as Mezam, Fako, Bui, and Menchum, as well as subdivisions such as Bamenda I and Eyumojock. The approach is grounded in a bottom-up methodology that actively involves communities, local civil society organizations (CSOs), and national NGOs in decision-making processes.
By placing local voices at the center of humanitarian action, ABC ensures that interventions reflect actual community priorities, strengthen local capacities, and promote accountability to affected populations.
Why Was ABC Introduced in the Northwest and Southwest?
The introduction of ABC responds to the increasingly complex humanitarian context in the NWSW regions. Persistent insecurity, access constraints, and reduced coordination support have challenged traditional humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
While the cluster system remains important, humanitarian actors recognized the need for a more localized and flexible coordination model. ABC addresses this gap by organizing partners around geographic areas rather than solely around sectors. This enables organizations to better understand local needs, avoid duplication, identify service gaps, and coordinate more efficiently.
The approach also aligns with broader efforts to reform humanitarian action by making responses more adaptable, community-driven, and impactful.
Understanding the Humanitarian Reset
ABC is closely linked to the broader global humanitarian reform process known as the Humanitarian Reset. Launched by the United Nations in early 2025, the Humanitarian Reset seeks to transform the international aid system in response to unprecedented humanitarian needs and a growing funding crisis. Triggered by significant reductions in funding from major donor countries, the initiative encourages humanitarian actors to prioritize efficiency, localization, collaboration, and accountability.
In practical terms, the Humanitarian Reset calls for aid organizations to work smarter, leverage local capacities, and focus resources where they can have the greatest impact. ABC reflects these principles by promoting localized decision-making and stronger collaboration among actors operating in the same areas.
Area-Based Coordination
- Focuses on specific geographic areas such as divisions and subdivisions.
- Promotes multi-sector and community-centered responses.
- Prioritizes local needs and integrated service delivery.
- Engages local NGOs, CSOs, community representatives, and area-based coordination teams.
- Seeks to ensure that communities receive comprehensive support across multiple sectors.
Inter-Cluster Coordination
- Operates at regional or national levels.
- Focuses on sector-specific coordination and technical standards.
- Ensures coherence, accountability, and alignment among clusters.
- Involves cluster leads, UN agencies, international NGOs, and coordination bodies.
- Seeks to minimize gaps and overlaps across sectors.
Who Participates in Area-Based Coordination?
ABC brings together a wide range of stakeholders, including:
- United Nations agencies
- International NGOs
- National NGOs
- Local civil society organizations
- Community leaders and representatives
- Government authorities, where feasible
This inclusive structure helps ensure that responses are informed by diverse perspectives and local realities.
How Can Partners Contribute?
The success of Area-Based Coordination depends on active participation from humanitarian actors. Partners are encouraged to:
- Participate regularly in coordination meetings.
- Share assessments, data, and operational plans.
- Align interventions with identified area priorities.
- Engage consistently with affected communities.
- Collaborate on joint initiatives and collective solutions.
Through these actions, organizations can contribute to a more coherent and effective humanitarian response.
The Critical Role of Local Organizations
Local NGOs and CSOs are at the heart of the ABC approach. Their deep understanding of community dynamics, cultural contexts, and access conditions makes them indispensable partners.
Local organizations contribute by:
- Providing contextual knowledge and analysis.
- Facilitating access to hard-to-reach communities.
- Delivering culturally appropriate interventions.
- Supporting sustainable and locally led solutions.
- Advancing the localization agenda within humanitarian action.
Their involvement strengthens both the quality and sustainability of humanitarian assistance.
Regional Leadership of Area-Based Coordination
At the regional level, Plan International Cameroon and Green Partners Association (GPA) currently serve as Regional Co-Chairs for Area-Based Coordination.
Their responsibilities include:
- Providing overall leadership and strategic direction.
- Connecting divisional priorities with regional coordination structures.
- Representing divisional concerns within inter-cluster coordination forums.
- Ensuring consistency between divisional activities and regional strategies.
- Supporting divisional coordination teams in overcoming challenges and mobilizing resources.
For example, regional co-chairs help ensure that priorities identified in divisions such as Mezam and Lebialem align with broader health, protection, and humanitarian response strategies.
Divisional Coordination Leadership
At the divisional level, dedicated co-chairs lead coordination efforts closer to affected communities.
Currently:
- SHUMAS and SENHOFA serve as Divisional Co-Chairs for Bui Division.
- Green Partners Association (GPA) serves as the Divisional Co-Chair for Menchum Division.
Divisional co-chairs are responsible for:
- Leading coordination efforts within their respective divisions.
- Convening regular meetings with humanitarian partners and community representatives.
- Coordinating multi-sector planning and response activities.
- Monitoring implementation and identifying gaps.
- Reporting divisional priorities and updates to regional coordination structures.
For instance, following a rapid assessment, the Menchum Divisional Chair may convene partners working in food security, shelter, health, and protection to develop a coordinated response plan that addresses the most urgent community needs.
A More Localized and Effective Humanitarian Response
As humanitarian challenges continue across Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest regions, Area-Based Coordination offers an opportunity to strengthen collaboration, improve efficiency, and place affected communities at the center of decision-making.
By bringing together humanitarian actors around shared geographic priorities, ABC helps ensure that assistance is better coordinated, more responsive to local realities, and capable of addressing the diverse needs of vulnerable populations. Ultimately, the approach represents an important step toward a more localized, accountable, and impactful humanitarian response.
