Cameroon Unveils Innovative Child Protection System

The Cameroon Government has launched a groundbreaking platform aimed at safeguarding vulnerable children nationwide. The platform, named the Child Protection Information Management System Plus (CPIMS+), was introduced by the Minister of Social Affairs, Pauline Irène Nguene, during a ceremony attended by key government and international stakeholders.

Present were Issa Tchiroma Bakari, the Minister of Employment and Vocational Training; Pauline Irene Nguene, Minister of Social Affairs; and Nadine Perrault, UNICEF’s Resident Representative in Cameroon.

Minister Nguene emphasised that CPIMS+ represents a major step in the country’s child protection framework.

The platform is designed to streamline the delivery and management of services aimed at safeguarding at-risk children, including abandoned and street children.

She highlighted that CPIMS+ will standardise procedures across various child protection actors, ensuring real-time data sharing and improved coordination.

“This innovation harmonises efforts, enabling us to achieve tangible results and enhance our response to child welfare challenges,” she stated.

Minister Nguene also expressed confidence in CPIM as a tool for evaluating progress in child protection efforts.

She set up a monitoring committee to oversee data collection and system improvements.

Cameroon now joins five nations in West and Central Africa pioneering the adoption of CPIMS+.

UNICEF’s Nadine Perrault commended Cameroon for its commitment to child welfare and praised the collaboration between UNICEF and the Ministry of Social Affairs.

She noted that CPIMS+ will provide real-time insights into the status of children, services rendered, and unmet needs.

This data-driven approach, she explained, will allow the government to effectively address violence and other risks faced by children.

At the end of the event, the Ministry of Social Affairs signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with UNICEF.

The agreement formalizes their partnership in implementing CPIMS+ and includes provisions for periodic evaluations and sharing expertise.