By Solange Tegwi
The United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF-Cameroon), represented by HE Nadine Perrault, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), represented by Melih Çağatay Artunay, to strengthen collaboration in Cameroon in support of child rights, youth engagement, and responses to humanitarian and climate-related emergencies.
The event took place on January 20, at the Conference Room of the UNICEF headquarters at Bastos, Yaoundé witnessed by Turkish Ambassador, HE Volkan Öskiper.
According to UNICEF-Cameroon Representative, HE Nadine Perrault, the signing of this partnership with UNICEF is not merely an administrative act.
It is an alliance of both heart and mind. It represents the meeting point between the global expertise of the United Nations for children and the vision of active solidarity championed by the Republic of Türkiye. According to her, this partnership with TİKA reflects their shared commitment to placing children and young people at the center of solutions to humanitarian, climate, and social crises. By supporting youth engagement and strengthening community capacities, they are investing in sustainable solutions that protect children’s rights today and build a more resilient future for tomorrow.
Established for an initial period of two years, the partnership seeks to combine the expertise, networks, and resources of both organizations to support the most vulnerable children and young people, particularly in regions affected by humanitarian crises and climate shocks.
The MoU places a strong emphasis on strengthening the U-Report/U-Responders initiative, led by UNICEF, which mobilizes young people as agents of change within their communities. “We are here to tell the children of Cameroon from the Far North to the Southern coasts, from the East to the Western mountains: Your future is our common priority,” HE Perrault said.
For its part, TİKA highlighted the importance of this collaboration in enhancing the impact of Turkish cooperation in Cameroon, particularly for the benefit of children and young people.
“TİKA is honored to partner with UNICEF in an initiative that puts children and youth at the heart of action. This Memorandum of Understanding reflects our vision to promote sustainable human development grounded in education, health, and solidarity,” stated Melih Çağatay Artunay, TİKA Program Coordinator in Cameroon.
“By working together, we aim to support concrete initiatives led by young people and communities, while engaging Turkish companies and the diaspora to actively contribute to the promotion of child rights in Cameroon.”
Through this collaboration, UNICEF and TİKA reaffirm their shared determination to work in a coordinated and innovative manner to sustainably improve the lives of children and young people in Cameroon, especially those affected by humanitarian emergencies and the impacts of climate change and to build resilient infrastructure that will stand tall for future generations.
