​UNICEF Cameroon and the Nachtigal Hydro Power Company – NHPC have signed a two-year memorandum of understanding aimed to accelerate local development and child protection in the communities surrounding the Nachtigal hydroelectric project.

Initialed by Nadine Perrault, UNICEF Representative in Cameroon, and Claire Gall, Executive Director of NHPC, this partnership aims to combine the expertise of both institutions to strengthen inclusive local policies specifically targeting children, youth, and women.

​The agreement focuses on the municipalities of Batchenga, Sa’a, Obala, Mbandjock, and Ntui, falling squarely under UNICEF’s “Child-Friendly Municipality” initiative. This strategic framework is built to support local communities as they implement public policies centered on children’s rights. To fund and sustain these long-term socio-economic development goals in rural areas, the partnership also paves the way to mobilize additional financial resources with the backing of the Special Fund for Intercommunal Equipment and Intervention – FEICOM and other key development partners.

​Beyond capacity building for local governments, the alliance targets several priority sectors to improve daily life along the riverside. Key interventions include upgrading basic social infrastructure—such as local schools, health centers, and safe drinking water access—while simultaneously promoting civic participation among youth. Additionally, the initiative will fund income-generating activities and work to build rural municipalities that are significantly more resilient to the escalating impacts of climate change.

​Moving forward, the partners are prioritizing immediate operational steps, starting with thorough field assessments across the target municipalities to map out precise needs in education, health, and local governance. For NHPC, this collaboration reflects a corporate social responsibility that extends far beyond power generation, transforming the energy project into a vehicle for sustainable community growth.

Ultimately, UNICEF and NHPC aim to reshape these riverside communities into environments where targeted investments in basic social services permanently secure children’s development.