Scaling Up Social Cohesion In COVID-19 Era:The SNWOT Model

By Tarhyang Enowbikah Tabe 

The South West North West Women’s Taskforce, better known by its viral acronym as SNWOT has wrapped up on a project to scale up social cohesion in five of Cameroon’s ten regions during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The triple phase mission project titled “fostering social cohesion amidst COVID-19 in Cameroon” was being implemented in the North West, South West, West, Littoral, and Centre Regions.

Justifying the project, the SNWOT explains that their response to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country is in line with her humanitarian commitment to ensuring decent, healthy, and adequate living standards for all humans. 

The Model

To this effect, the leading Women’s Peace Advocacy Network in Cameroon, SNWOT had been sensitizing the masses, providing psycho social support and championing advocacy on the need for social cohesion within vulnerable groups like the internally displaced, physically challenged persons and grassroots communities.

The project which started on July 21 has taken the dynamic ladies to the West, Littoral, and Centre Regions, with a door-to-door sensitization approach on COVID-19.

According to reports, on a daily basis, over 250 internally displaced persons in the conflict stricken North West and South West Regions of Cameroon have been reached with messages and materials aimed at curbing the spread of the Coronavirus.

Furthermore, we gather that in the 13 divisions of the conflict-hit North West and South West Regions, SNWOT has gone beyond sensitizing the masses on COVID-19 and providing them with protective materials.

The group did not end there, they went ahead to identify and train over 130 women leaders to serve as community advocates to push back COVID-19 and build community resilience.

“Within the context of fostering social cohesion amidst COVID-19 in Cameroon project, 20 women have also received training on Psycho social First Aid provision to victims of trauma and/or violence in armed conflict.” Our Northwest based Correspondent hinted.

High Expectations

The first phase of the project which ends on Friday July 31, the SNWOT believes that, with the results on the field, they have made yet another vital input in responding to COVID-19 as well as its effects on the populations of the North West and South West Regions who have been trapped in a conflict pitting state forces and non-state armed groups.

With thousands of people killed and hundreds of thousands displaced as a result of the unrest, pundits say SNWOT’s project to foster social cohesion amidst a health threat like COVID-19, the women believes strongly, will be a huge relief to those affected by the crisis.

About SNWOT

SNWOT is a coalition of women leaders & women-led organizations. It is out to: Contribute significantly in resolving the conflict in the NWSW Regions of Cameroon Ensure women's meaningful participation in decision making processes at all levels.

Background check reveals that even before the coming of the COVID-19 Pandemic, The South West and North West Women's Task Force have been very active in mitigating sufferings and pushing for peace in the NW and SW Regions of Cameroon.

They have been able to add their voices to that of all actors for peace to strongly decry the excessive killings and wartime violence against women and girls.

At a point, they had called on all concerned to stop the killing of children, the no school campaign, the destruction of property and the reign of terror that immobilizes the society and puts life as a whole at risk.

Having in mind that the weight of building community resilience in times of crisis and pandemics rests on the shoulders of women leaders in most communities, and as means the African woman, the group of ladies also recently decided to celebrate women leaders who are first responders to the corona virus attack in our communities.

“In Africa, we salute the bravery and selflessness of the women in building resilience within the ailing population. We salute most especially women in conflict zones in Africa” Says a quote on the SNWOT official Facebook page.