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Kilum Strategic Development Group
(KISDEG)

Registered NGO No E26/CSAB/63/387

Motto: Sustainability and Equitable Development

Identification

Kilum Strategy Development Group (KISDEG) is a legalized rural community-based association and apolitical organization based in Oku.

KISDEG is the initiative of some ingenious people of the Kilum area who design programs that enhance peaceful cohabitation, co-operation amongst the different ethnic groups and empower the minority groups, women, youth and children of the area.

Background

Kilum Mountain in Oku (3008m) is the second highest point in West Africa after Mount Cameroon. It harbors one of the richest, unique and rare plant and bird species in the world. The Kilum Mountain has been identified as one of the priority biodiversity sites for conservation. It is major water catchments for many rivers in Cameroon and Nigeria. It constitutes a source of life for over 200,000 people and the nomadic indigenous minority including the Bororos, Aku, and the Fulanis.

The tribes of Oku, Nso and Kom, as well as the nomads, depend on the forest and the surrounding lands for honey, medicine, handicraft, livestock and sustainable agriculture. The unsustainable land use, erosion, and land scarcity had led to farmer and grazer conflicts and the equitable exploitation of natural resources. Other impediments to progress include ethnic and religious tensions between the minority/majority tribes, as well as among majority tribes, that have sometimes led to ethnic conflicts. The region is thus prone to severe poverty, inadequate infrastructure for education, health, water, and food security. These problems are in and of themselves, violations of Human Rights and a hindrance to social development.

OBJECTIVES	AREAS OF INTERVENTION
To promote Human Rights in socially integral development (health, basic and functional education). To promote sustainable agriculture and pastoral improvement. To promote the artistic and cultural and heritage of the region. To encourage the use of intellectual property rights and economic activities.	Human rights education (minority and indigenous rights) Basic and functional education (Education For all). Community health education (intestinal infection, STDS and HIV/AIDS) Advocacy and lobbying Facilitation, training and information seminarian Arts and culture (in the Kilum mountain areas) Participatory biodiversity conservation generation)
TARGET GROUPS	ACHIEVEMENTS
The nomad minority groups The underprivileged and disadvantaged groups Women, children, youth groups Rural communities	Completed Human Rights education in 7 communities Nomadic socialization program since 2000 Created and running a primary school for the indigenous nomadic community since 2001 Created a tree nursery of 4000 plants in 2002, distributed and replanted tree seedlings Created environmental clubs, some of which have participated in two international environmental competitions in 2002 and 2003. Assisted farmers in Eucalyptus reallocation in 2000-2002 for agricultural land use Organized and restructured many women groups with partial financing from KISDEG 2000-2003 Lobbied and sponsored the participation of Habitat for Humanity International in the construction of low cost houses for the poor and needy in 2002. Created a rural library in 2002.Developed the ‘girl child scholarship’ program with the American embassy in Cameroon in 2001.

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