The Centre for Agroecological Promotion, CAEP, has secured provisional accreditation as an observer organization to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, UNCCD, ahead of COP17 slated for 17–28 August 2026 in Ulaanbaatar.
The Cameroon-based organization received official communication from the UNCCD Secretariat on May 5, 2026 confirming that its accreditation request will be tabled for final approval by Parties during the global summit. CAEP is now recognized as a provisionally accredited observer pending that decision.
The milestone coincides with CAEP’s participation in a regional Congo Basin civil society workshop held May 5–6 in Douala. Organized by SAILD in collaboration with Forests, People, Climate, and supported by Synchronicity Earth, the workshop drew community actors from six Congo Basin countries to deepen collaboration on climate resilience, forest governance, biodiversity conservation, indigenous participation, agroecology, and sustainable land management.
“Our participation in the Congo Basin workshop and this provisional UNCCD accreditation together represent an important step toward elevating grassroots agroecology and restoration voices from Cameroon and the Congo Basin into global environmental policy spaces,” said Emmanuel Ekundime Eku, CAEP Executive Director.
As a community-based organization, CAEP promotes integrated farming systems, agroforestry, land restoration, farmer resilience, and climate adaptation for smallholder communities. It collaborates with SAILD, the Environment and Rural Development Foundation, the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, and the Network for the Promotion of Agroecology in Cameroon.
The group says the accreditation will strengthen its contribution to international dialogues on land restoration, sustainable food systems, drought resilience, climate justice, and community-led environmental governance.
It should be noted that the Centre for Agroecological Promotion is a Cameroon-based organization advancing agroecology, integrated farming, climate resilience, sustainable rural livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, and ecological restoration across Cameroon and the Congo Basin.
By Olive Ejang
